Pay rise is just one per cent; UK nurses prepares for a strike
LONDON: Wide protests against the British government’s announcement of a mere one-per-cent increase in pay for nurses and other NHS employees who are front-line fighters.
Various unions in the nursing sector have come out against the government’s move. Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing, the country’s largest nursing organisation, is preparing for a strike against this wrong government action.
As part of the budget statement, the government approved a one per cent pay rise for NHS employees, including nurses, as recommended by the Department of Health. More than 1.3 million other government employees, including teachers, police, firefighters and the Armed Forces, have had their pay frozen for a year.
The government has stated that the pay hike has been implemented only to honour the NHS employees and that it will not be able to afford a further increase in the current economic situation as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
At the same time, those including the Royal College of Nursing and Unison are demanding at least a 12.5% increase. The RCN, which is preparing for the strike in protest of the government’s decision, has also set up a £35 million strike fund.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described the pay rise as pathetic. They also demanded a 12.5% pay hike. At the same time, government sources said the current pay rise was adequate as inflation remained at 0.9%.However, there is criticism that NHS employees will receive only £3.5 a week with a one per cent pay rise.
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Jonathan Ashworth’s response was that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was cutting the salaries of nurses and that this was unacceptable.
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