NHS 1% pay rise branded as "insult" in Plymouth
Plymouth City Council's Cabinet member for health says it is "shocking and shameful"
Labour councillors in Plymouth have condemned the Government’s recommended 1per cent pay rise for NHS staff as an “insult”.
The city council’s Cabinet member for health Kate Taylor said the “pitiful” proposed rise was “shocking and shameful” and would be effectively a pay cut.
"This is nothing short of a kick in the teeth for all those who have worked tirelessly to keep people safe. They deserve something better."
Her comments came at a meeting of the full council which voted to ask the Government to provide a “fair settlement” to recognise the contribution of the workforce during the pandemic.
The council, which has a Labour majority, backed the motion describing the proposed rise as an insult to a workforce “already on its knees”.
It said: "The 1% rise for NHS staff is an insult and it is clear that Plymouth’s frontline health and care workers are being asked to pick up the cost of the pandemic which they have heroically fought, and in which some staff have lost their lives."
The motion also called on the Government to fulfill its election promise to reform the financing of adult social care, and to confirm funding would continue after March to allow care staff to continue to access sick pay during the pandemic.
Cllr Taylor said prime minister Boris Johnson had promised several times to reform the funding of adult social care, but had so far failed to deliver a solution.
The council’s Labour leader Tudor Evans said health workers who had tackled the pandemic deserved a proper pay rise, but what was proposed in the Budget was an “abject failure” by the Government.
Conservative group leader Nick Kelly said the Labour-backed motion was premature as the final pay recommendation would be made by a review body. He said the tone and language was “provocative and inflammatory” during a national pandemic.
Cllr Kelly said the Conservative group acknowledged the huge contribution from NHS and care workers, as did the Government, and it had been recognised by a recommended rise at a time of a public sector pay freeze.
Conservative Glen Jordan said it would be great if the country was in a financial position to fund big public sector pay rises, but the money had to come from somewhere.
Independent Kevin Neill said it was insulting for the prime minister to lead applause on the steps of Number 10 then give NHS staff an effective pay cut.
Labour’s Darren Winter said 1per cent was what the Government thought the people who formed a “human shield” between Covid and the public were worth.
He said the Government had given contracts to its friends and spent billions on the “failed” Test and Trace service, which councillors heard earlier was costing £37billion.
The motion was carried at the meeting on Monday with 31 votes in favour and 18 abstentions including Conservative group members.