Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We have given you everything, including our lives.. please give us a rise
Healthcare heroes miss GMB union: It was yet out on increase last month another kick in the teeth
do what’s best for our patients and the country. After everything we’ve been through, the recent Government announcement about pay in the NHS is gut-wrenching.”
It comes as the official coronavirus death toll rose yesterday by 65 to 46,364, though the real figure is higher.
In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health recorded 10 new cases, bringing the total to 6,006, while the death toll remains at 556.
The letter also says NHS workers’ pay has not kept up with inflation over the past decade.
It adds this has led to “cleaners, porters and nurses turning to foodbanks and unable to afford rent”. The letter continues: “The NHS is one team, but the Government’s recent approach neglects the nurses, junior doctors, GPS, paramedics, cleaners and countless others who have been fighting the coronavirus on the front line for months on end... We want the Government to recognise every NHS worker’s efforts in fighting coronavirus.
“We call upon the Government to reverse the trend which is pushing NHS workers into poverty, and provide fully funded, above-inflation pay rises every year for the next 4 years, for every single NHS worker.” Police and teachers were handed a pay rise of just over 3% to recognise their “vital contribution” in fighting the pandemic. A similar increase for a typical nurse salary of £28,500 would mean a boost of £884. Dentists and senior doctors negotiate their pay deals separately and were included