Health workers to hold second protest in Chesterfield calling for 'pay justice'
Another protest will take place in Chesterfield calling for ‘pay justice’ for NHS workers.
In the summer, the Government announced that nearly 900,000 public sector workers – including teachers, doctors and dentists – would be given an above-inflation pay rise.
However, this did not include more than one million NHS staff – such as nurses, cleaners and care assistants – as they are already part of the Agenda for Change (AfC), a separate three-year pay deal which ends next April.
Campaigners are urging the Government to bring forward pay negotiations and to implement a 15 per cent wage rise for AfC workers.
Last month, Chesterfield lead nurse Matthew Tacey organised a peaceful protest about the issue, which saw 1,500 people march through the town.
Another protest – starting at Rykneld Square then going through the town centre and back – will take place from 11am on September 12.
Matthew said: “We will continue to fight for pay justice.
“Over the last few weeks, we have seen the unions are on board with its members and the general public with the feeling that the NHS workers deserve a pay rise.
“The inflation rate over the last 11 years has been 31 per cent – the average nurse has only received a pay rise of 11 per cent in that period so we are missing 20 per cent of our pay but we are angry for a lot of reasons.
“We’re angry because of years of brutal cuts to health and social care.
“Cuts cost lives – patients and staff. It’s that simple.
“We’re angry because nurses and healthcare workers are being paid less than a living wage and constantly told their professions are ‘vocations’.
“We’re angry at the ongoing privatisation of public services which has resulted in job losses, service cuts and the deaths of our most marginalised and disadvantaged.
“Please, find that courage and support when you clapped for us on Thursday evenings and stand with us on September 12 – you will be welcomed.
“PPE and social distancing must be respected.”
A Government spokesperson said it would ‘continue to ensure all staff are rewarded fairly’.