Posted 26 August 2020 - 14:15
Posted 26 August 2020 - 14:15
News
Nurses prepare to march on Whitehall to demand 15% pay rise
NHS staff from across London are demanding recognition for efforts during COVID-19 pandemic
NHS staff from across London are demanding recognition for efforts during COVID-19 pandemic
Nurses and other NHS staff will converge on Whitehall this evening to demand a 15% pay rise.
The London demonstrations will start at 5pm from St Thomas', University College London, Homerton, Lewisham, Chelsea and Westminster, and Queen Elizabeth hospitals.
Demonstrations gain momentum after Agenda for Change exclusion from public sector pay rise
The rallies are being coordinated by the NHS Workers Say No to Pay Inequality Facebook group. The same group organised demonstrations in more than 40 towns on 8 August after NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts were excluded from a public sector pay rise
NHS staff from across London are demanding recognition for efforts during COVID-19 pandemic
Nurses and other NHS staff will converge on Whitehall this evening to demand a 15% pay rise.
The London demonstrations will start at 5pm from St Thomas', University College London, Homerton, Lewisham, Chelsea and Westminster, and Queen Elizabeth hospitals.
Demonstrations gain momentum after Agenda for Change exclusion from public sector pay rise
The rallies are being coordinated by the NHS Workers Say No to Pay Inequality Facebook group. The same group organised demonstrations in more than 40 towns on 8 August after NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts were excluded from a public sector pay rise awarded after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are supported by Nurses United UK, the Unite and GMB unions, and Keep Our NHS Public – NHS Staff Voices.
The group argues NHS staff have seen inflation erode the value of their pay by 20% over the past decade.
Further UK-wide demonstrations have been planned
Campaigner and critical care outreach nurse Eve Kirwan said: ‘I have gained extensive knowledge and experience from nursing for over 20 years. However, my salary has remained the same since 2010.
‘The government is taking advantage of skilled staff like myself who have dedicated their lives to the NHS.’
NHS Workers Say No To Pay Inequality has called for another day of demonstrations across the UK on 12 September.
- RELATED: Start nurse pay talks now, urges RCN
Department of Health and Social Care response
A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said the Agenda for Change pay deal has provided year-on-year pay increases, boosting the newly qualified nurse starting salary by more than 12%.
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