UNISON, Scotland’s biggest health union, will hold socially distanced demonstrations across Scotland on 18 August. The demonstrations are the next stage in UNISON’s campaign for a pay rise for NHS staff.
UNISON Pay up Now campaign is thanking the public and asking them for their continued support for a NHS pay rise.
The trade union is calling on the Scottish Government to reopen the NHS three year pay deal, and for ministers to sit down with the trade unions to discuss a pay rise for all NHS staff.
NHS staff have had real term pay cuts over the last decade with significant extra costs over this pandemic. Including extra childcare costs because they are working extra shifts, extra transport costs because of restricted public transport, extra costs because they have being isolating from family, or even extra laundry costs and buying personal PPE.
NHS staff have been working long hours and many report being mentally and physically exhausted. Their response to this pandemic has been heroic.
Tom Waterson, chair of UNISON Scotland health committee said: “UNISON are organising socially distanced demonstrations across Scotland on Tuesday 18 August to show the strength of feeling of NHS staff about pay.
The public support for our heroic NHS workers throughout this pandemic has been amazing. Thursday night clapping was hugely appreciated by health workers across the UK.
However the reality is that NHS workers have seen their pay eroded over the past decade and some NHS staff are amongst the lower paid in Scotland. So please continue your support for NHS workers. They deserve it.”
Notes
UNISON is the biggest trade union in the NHS and the biggest trade union in Scotland.
UNISON Scotland contacts
Tom Waterson, chair of health committee: 07753 627575
Willie Duffy, head of health: 07904 342129
Danny Phillips, communications officer: 07944 664110 d.phillips@unison.co.uk