GOVERNMENT SHOULDN’T TAKE NHS STAFF FOR FOOLS SAYS UNISON

Commenting today (1st April) as UNISON members across all HSC Trusts join with NHS staff across the UK in calling for a decent pay rise as part of the One Team 2k campaign, UNISON Northern Ireland Head of Bargaining and Representation Anne Speed said:

“It may be April 1st, but UNISON members rights across Northern Ireland are saying loud and clear that they won’t be taken for fools. The 1% funding by the UK Government is a bad joke that is no laughing matter.

UNISON is demanding that the Government at Westminster make the resources available to fund a decent pay rise for all staff in Northern Ireland. MPs from Northern Ireland and all parties in the Northern Ireland Executive must support that call.

The actions of the Scottish Government last week show that valuing staff and investing in the NHS is a political choice. Staff in Northern Ireland have already given so much, working round the clock to keep the public safe.

Now is the time to show them that they are truly valued and are not being taken for granted. Not doing so will demoralise health workers and damage our health service significantly at the worst possible time.’’