Commenting on new TUC research published today (Friday) showing that NHS workers have lost at least “a year’s worth of salary” because their pay has not kept pace with inflation since 2010, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“These figures show precisely what’s behind the wave of industrial action in the health service this winter.
“Ministers clearly don’t value health workers as much as they should. It’s no wonder the NHS is struggling to attract and keep staff when employees are finding it so much harder to cover their bills.
“The link between pay and staffing is obvious to everyone but the government.
“Without proper investment in the NHS workforce, people will continue to leave for better paid, less stressful jobs and services to patients won’t improve.
“It’s time the chancellor came out of hiding and found the money to pay staff properly.
“Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak can stop the disputes right away by talking with unions and boosting wages, just as governments elsewhere in the UK have done.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
