Larger pay rise? You’re lucky you’ve got a job

I don’t understand this hullabaloo about the NHS ‘only’ getting a one per cent pay rise (Metro, Wed) because they’ve had a horrendous year – we’ve all had a horrendous year!

My wife and I are key workers and we’re not asking for a pay rise. We’ve just got on and done the job we’re paid to do, like a lot of people have.

When soldiers return from war you don’t hear them saying, ‘That was a tough war, we need a pay rise.’ The

NHS has been fantastic, as have other professions – but just like others, they are paid to do a job. Graham, Selby

■ My wife and I retired two years ago after working a total of more than 90 years. We both receive about £160 a week in state pension and also receive small private pensions. But we survive by also using our savings.

Do those asking for a greater NHS pay rise than one per cent realise how

ridiculous their demand is in these hard times?

I thought nursing was a vocation that was chosen for the nature of work, not an ordinary job you take for the money.

What about the supermarket workers who have had to work harder or carehome staff who certainly don’t do the job for the pay? We all appreciate the efforts of NHS staff but they are paid to care for the sick. Stephen Briggs, Leeds

In response to Helen from Nottingham (MetroTalk, Fri), it’s true many furloughed workers are relaxing at home but many of them don’t know if they can keep their job when furlough ends. Plus people like me,

who have lost their job because the business they were working for had to close, are facing a very scary future. And it’s unfair that some think we are the ones who should pay back more.

Eve, Manchester

There was no choice regards being furloughed. Yes, I had ‘an extended paid-for holiday’, and yes, my lawn was ‘perfectly manicured’ – so sorry for trying to fill in my time! (I was doing voluntary work as well.) But if anyone doesn’t like that, please note that I was subsequently made redundant, I remain unemployed, I have a mortgage to pay and I am the wrong side of 50.

Richard Price, Colchester