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NHS pay: can posters in windows change ministers’ minds on a 1% deal?

Unions urge public to show their support for a ‘proper’ pay increase for nurses
Poster in a window expresses support for NHS pay rise

Unions urge public to show their support for ‘proper’ pay rise for nurses in England’s NHS

Poster in a window demonstrates public support for NHS pay rise
Picture: Alamy

A campaign to bring public pressure to bear on the government over NHS pay will begin on the day a new deal should have been in place.

Health unions, including the RCN and Unison, are asking the public to display colourful posters in their windows on 1 April.

What nurses say about poster campaign

But opinion may be split among nurses about whether to pin their hopes on the tactic.

1%

… the size of pay rise the government in England has told the NHS Pay Review Body nurses should receive. The independent body is due to make its recommendations for 2021-22 in May.

Comments on Nursing Standard’s Facebook page note the campaign will be a show of solidarity that might put pressure on the government.

Reader, Vanessa Harratt said public support would be critical to the unions’ cause.

‘You all clapped? Do a poster please. It shows public support and if we have your/their support, we can start to really drive this forward,’ she wrote.

However, Rose Luther was sceptical. She wrote: ‘If they don't listen to threats of strike why would they pay any attention to posters?’

‘Proper reward for professionalism of NHS staff’

RCN general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair urged the public to show the government which side they are on.

She said: ‘Last year the public put rainbow pictures in their windows to say thank you to NHS staff for their amazing work during the pandemic. Now we’re urging them to put posters up again, this time to help ensure those staff are rewarded properly for their skill, dedication and professionalism.’


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