UNISON calls for minimum £2,000 pay rise for NHS staff

A pay claim submitted by UNISON to the government would see every NHS employee receive an increase of at least £2,000 by the end of this year.

The union says this rise is the equivalent of around £1 an hour for all staff. If the claim is accepted, minimum wages in the health service would go above £20,000 a year for the first time (more than £20,400 annually in Scotland).

UNISON members, including nursing, engineering and ambulance staff, have delivered a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to put NHS pay top of his to-do list and bring forward plans for a meaningful and early rise.

UNISON says its pay demand is ‘fair, reasonable and the least the government can do to show it values everyone working in the health service’.

Sara Gorton, the union’s head of health, said: “Government ministers claim NHS staff are a ‘top priority’. The Prime Minister must not miss the opportunity to show they really mean it. Health service employees have made their expectations clear – that their pay will reflect the work they’ve done during the pandemic. This is also the overwhelming message from the public.

“The claim is straightforward, can be brought in quickly and would ensure everyone in the NHS is recognised. There’s a tough winter ahead and a pandemic that shows little sign of disappearing. Giving health staff a morale boost now is much-needed ahead of any good news about a vaccine.”