NHS staff feel "underappreciated" as colleagues in Scotland get higher pay rise
Unions are asking people to put colourful posters in their windows next week to show support
Last updated 26th Mar 2021
The Prime Minister is facing increasing pressure to reconsider the decision to offer NHS staff in England a 1% pay rise, with health workers across Staffordshire and Cheshire saying it's demotivating and truly upsetting after the year they've had.
It comes as frontline staff north of the border are to get a backdated 4% rise to their pay packets.
The Chief Executive of The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs The Royal Stoke, Tracy Bullock says "I'll be very honest and say I was really disappointed. That to me wasn't giving the message of thank you and we value what you've done over the last year. And not only that, what you're going to have to continue to do over the next few years in terms of ongoing management of COVID, but more so the recovery and restoration of services."
Unions are now urging people to put colourful posters in their windows in support of a campaign for a proper pay rise for NHS workers.
"They're really not happy. They feel disappointed. They feel that down."
Fourteen unions, representing more than one million workers, called on households across the UK to show their appreciation for NHS workers with bright displays on April 1, the day staff are due to have a wage rise.
Unions say the delay means health workers, including cleaners, porters, physiotherapists, 999 call handlers, nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, must now wait until later in the year for the wage rise they are due.
Tracy added: "The 1% wasn't what was promised. There was the 2.1% that was planned for, and they are without a doubt upset by it."
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: "Everyone can join the NHS 'thank you' with an eye-catching window show.
"The public have shown they genuinely value health workers, but ministers have put on a false front with praise one minute and a meagre 1% the next. Ministers must display more imagination and heart. The Scottish government has already shown if the will is there, the money can be found.''
"Nursing staff are disgusted with the Government's 1% pay proposal"
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair 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.
Tracy Bullock added: "For our staff, I was really really disappointed - and when we get onto that subject and I say to them how do you feel about that? Yeah, they're not happy. They're really not happy. They feel disappointed. They feel that down and without a doubt they are upset by it."