Thank NHS staff with proper pay rise, say health unions

Football pundit Gary Lineker, comedian Jo Brand and Hollywood star David Oyelowo are among celebrities backing a fair pay campaign launched on Monday 11th January by health unions.

To mark International Thank You Day, the 14 unions are urging the public to use social media to champion the vital work of all health staff by supporting a decent pay rise.

The unions – representing workers including 1.3 million nurses, cleaners, administrators, physiotherapists, healthcare assistants, dieticians, radiographers, porters, midwives, paramedics, and other NHS employees – are asking people to share hashtags such as #FairPay, and to message their MPs.

UNISON members across Northern Ireland have already lobbied their MPs to support the all unions Bring it Forward campaign which calls for an early uplift of pay.

UNISON members are calling for a minimum of 2k on a One Team basis for all health staff.

We will continue to champion this just demand.

Our members and all workers in the health service deserve recognition from political leaders which is more than a handclap.

– The 14 NHS unions are: British Association of Occupational Therapists, British Dietetic Association, British Orthoptic Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, College of Podiatry, Federation of Clinical Scientists, GMB, Managers in Partnership, Prison Officers Association, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite.