Commenting on the government’s launch of a consultation on the introduction of a separate pay spine for nurses in England, UNISON acting head of health Helga Pile said:
“The NHS needs greater funding to be able to offer decent pay for all staff. That’s the way to recruit and retain the workforce that’s needed.
“Pitting different groups of staff against each other for a larger slice of what’s available is the wrong approach. It would divert time and resources from the real problems, damage team morale and tie employers up in years of equal pay claims.
“Nurses – along with all other NHS staff – are rightly furious about being underpaid and poorly recognised for the work they do.
“Instead of creating divisive distractions, ministers should be looking to grade nurses properly, so they’re paid fairly for their skills and training, improve career progression and offer decent overtime rates for all.”
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:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
The article NHS staff need better pay, not divisive distractions, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.