Commenting on the health secretary’s comments on NHS pay to the health select committee earlier today (Tuesday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“Inflation and freezes to tax allowances mean a 1% increase is neither a wage rise, nor an acceptable way to treat health workers who’ve given everything this past year.
“Matt Hancock should stop trying to defend the indefensible. The government needs a rethink as even its own backbenchers have made clear. Without a decent pay rise this year, the NHS will struggle to hold on to its increasingly fed-up workforce.”
Notes to editors:
-UNISON is calling on the government to give all NHS workers a pay rise of at least £2,000. Health workers are currently in the final year of a three-year deal. They should have been getting a pay rise in April.
-UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
