Health and social care staff deserve a pay rise now

Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, is demanding that the UK Government introduce a ‘real pay rise now’ in recognition of their work on the frontline throughout the coronavirus crisis.

The UK Government announced, this week, that public sector workers would be getting a pay rise of between 2.8%- 3.1%. This includes teachers, doctors and dentists, alongside police, prison officers and members of the civil service.

Nurses and the social care sector were excluded from the pay rise because of a three-year deal which increased nurses’ wages by 2.8%. This was introduced in 2018 and runs until April 2021. 

Ms Jardine said: “This is a slap in the face for our frontline health and social care staff who’ve been working flat out for months on end.

“The marginal increase in public sector pay for our police offers, teachers and some NHS staff is simply not enough. It has come after years of under-resourcing and under-staffing these vital services.

“It’s utterly incomprehensible that this Government is using ‘Covid bonus’ and 2018 rise as excuses to exclude nurses and social care staff.  How much longer can they continue to ignore those who have risked their lives to slow the spread of this virus and keep our country going?

“Liberal Democrats have argued for a better deal for NHS and care staff, yet Ministers seem to think that words and hand claps are sufficient.

“The UK Government should be ashamed of neglecting our NHS and care staff. Yet again.”

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