North East nurses outraged over government pay offer
Dozens of nurses from our region have signed an open letter calling for a fairer pay deal.
Nurses in the North East and Cumbria say they feel 'ripped off' by the government as their wages take another knock today.
Front-line staff from across our region have written an open letter, venting their anger at the Government's 1% pay award for the next finanical year.
They claim that once increased national insurance contributions are taken into effect, it's not an increase at all.
Nurses from our region say their pay has fallen around 14% behind inflation since David Cameron became Prime Minister in 2010.
Many are taking on extra shifts to get by.
Now they're being supported by the Royal College of Nursing, who've launched a campaign called 'Nursing Matters' which is calling for a fairer pay deal for all nursing staff.
RCN Northern Regional Director, Glenn Turp said: “Nurses working in every part of the North East and Cumbria have signed this letter.
"And as the letter makes clear, they are angry.
"In many instances, they are delivering life-saving care, 365 days a year, 24hrs a day, for example in intensive care units, in A&E departments, in mental health settings and in the community.
"And frankly they have had enough.
"They feel like they are being taken for granted. They are telling us that they feel like the Government is ripping them off.
"The mood of the profession is turning, as this letter shows.”
The public are being urged to get behind the Nursing Matters campaign by tweeting and expressing their support on Facebook.
The full letter said:
18 April 2016 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: FOR PUBLICATION
Dear Editor,
Once again, the Conservative Government is eroding nursing pay. Whilst it is true that last month, the Government awarded nurses a meagre 1% pay rise, it still means nurses’ pay is around 14% behind the cost of living than when David Cameron came to power in 2010.
Now there’s been another attack on our pay. This time changes in National Insurance arrangements on pensions will wipe out our 1% rise before it even hits our pay packet.
It’s just not good enough. That’s why we’re asking all members of the public to support the RCN’s campaign for fair pay for all nursing staff.
If you are a member of the public and would like to tweet your support for fair pay for nurses, please either visit www.rcn.org.uk/nursingcounts or tweet @Jeremy_Hunt direct using the hashtag #nursingcounts
Let’s tell the Government that nursing staff won’t stand for it any longer. Thousands of our members across the region are dedicated to caring for you, 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, whatever your illness or condition.
Please show your support for us.
Yours sincerely,
Billy Drysdale, nurse, Carlisle, Cumbria Christie Errington, nurse, Wallsend, North Tyneside Clare Barlow, nurse, Broughton Moor, Cumbria Helen Lloyd, nurse, Millom, Cumbria Karen Dutton, nurse, Cockermouth, Cumbria Karen Taylor, nurse, Windermere, Cumbria Mark Goodall, nurse, Choppington, Northumberland Mary Douthwaite, nurse, Hexham, Northumberland Michael Appleby, nurse, Coxhoe, County Durham Pat Dixon, nurse, Teesside Rachael Ridley, nurse, Cumbria Ray Davidson, nurse, Ashington, Northumberland Roaqah Shahar, nurse, Middlesbrough, Teesside Sarah Eardley, nurse, High Hauxley, Northumberland Stephen Hyde, nurse, Ryton, Tyne and Wear Jill Underwood, nurse, Northallerton Carolyn Mason, nurse, Newton Hall, County Durham Lynn Morgan, nurse, Hartlepool, Teesside Jan Weightman, nurse, Bedlington, Northumberland Kate Ollis, nurse, Stockton, Teesside Andrew Moore, nurse, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear