The Conversation (0)
Kate Plummer
Jul 21, 2021
NHS workers in St James’s Park, London, during their demonstration as part of a national protest over pay
PA
Nurses and other NHS workers in England are to be offered a 3% pay rise by government after a year of gruelling work in the pandemic.
The government had faced criticism on Wednesday because parliament goes into recess tomorrow until September, and health minister Helen Whately made no mention of a pay rise during a speech about the NHS parliament today, causing an angry backlash.
Rachel Harrison, national officer of the GMB, said: “This is completely outrageous – virtually the last day of Parliament and the Government has insulted hard-working NHS workers once again by staying silent.
“GMB has today written to the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to demand they intervene and set out their response on NHS pay before the summer recess.”
But a later announcement confirmed rumours of a 3% pay raise.
It left some political commentators baffled at why the government would keep such a popular measure so quiet.
Why did the Government try and sneak out a pay rise for nurses and doctors? Isn’t that the sort of thing you shout from the rooftops?— (((Dan Hodges))) (@(((Dan Hodges)))) 1626887001
Others suspected a hasty U-turn.
U-turn on a U-turn. Govt press release confirms 3% pay rise for NHS staff.— Paul Waugh (@Paul Waugh) 1626886450
Although what government gives with one hand, it sometimes takes away with the other, and cops seem to have been handed a quiet real-terms pay cut at the same time:
Meanwhile, the Home Office slips out a real terms pay cut for police officers. https://t.co/9AcVfKldZu— Paul Waugh (@Paul Waugh) 1626888009