Call for NHS workers in York to get a pay rise
York UNISON is calling on the Government to back the move.
The UNISON health union is calling for every NHS worker in York to receive a pay rise of £2,000. The group are urging the Government to bring in the increase to help staff across the health service.
Ray Gray is the regional officer for UNISON in North Yorkshire: "Since April last year I think the public have really begun to see the true value of what the NHS is.
"We're arguing for £2,000 for everyone in the NHS, but not as a one off payment. We want it to get consolidated onto the rest of their wage.
"We've been asking for this since October. We believe this would be better than a percentage increase, as that has a habit of giving the most to those who need it least and the least to those who need it most.
"This pay increase would recognise everyone's hard work during the pandemic, from the cleaner to the doctor.
"For those on the bottom grade, it would put them on £10.20 an hour and put them above the Living Wage. We think this will both encourage people to join the NHS and keep existing staff".
Ray says this would be a far more powerful message than clap for heroes tonight: "When clap for heroes first started last year it was very emotional, but then it just became the norm for a Thursday evening.
"This time we're not asking people to clap for the NHS; we're asking them to give something that realty matters to them.
"NHS staff are heroes, and the public can play their part in supporting this campaign. I think it's an achievable goal".
In a statement a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told us: “There are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in our NHS and our dedicated NHS staff will rightly be exempt from the temporary pause on pay rises for public sector workers.
“Over one million NHS staff are currently benefitting from multi-year pay deals, agreed with trade unions. These have delivered a pay rise of over 12% for newly qualified nurses.
“We continue to listen to our valued staff and trade unions so everyone is rewarded fairly and, when we receive them, we will consider the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body.”
The Government say the NHS Pay Review Body will report as usual next year, and the government will take their recommendations into account: "We will prioritise the lowest paid, with 2.1 million public sector workers earning less than £24,000 receiving a minimum £250 increase.
"The government hugely values and appreciates all our healthcare staff. We are working hard to ensure that health and social care workers feel supported and safe to continue the fight against Covid-19.
"According to the most recent NHS Digital Data, for the 12-month period ending June 2020, estimated mean annual earnings per person for nurses and health visitors were £33,723."