NHS workers marched on Downing Street today to demand a pay rise.
The protest came as the GMB union, which represents some NHS staff, recommended its members reject the Government’s 3% pay deal and said it will have “no hesitation” in supporting members if they want to take industrial action.
The GMB said the increase was months late being paid, and amounted to another real-terms pay cut.
The union is campaigning for a 15% increase and other health unions are considering their next step, with industrial action not being ruled out by some.
GMB national officer Rachel Harrison said: “A miserly 3% is simply not good enough. It’s another real-terms pay cut, and after the year health workers have had it’s downright offensive.
“GMB is calling for a restorative 15% increase to make up for a decade of slashed pay under the Conservatives.
“We have no hesitation in recommending members vote to reject the 3% and no hesitation in supporting members if they want to take action.”
Workers, including from hospitals in London, marched to Downing Street amid continued anger over the delay in awarding a wage increase, which was due in April, but was only announced last week.
Unite national officer for health Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said: “We fully support our health members in their protest at the grossly inadequate and underwhelming 3% pay recommendation.
“We believe that the public shares our disgust at this paltry offer, which reinforces our resolve for pay justice.
“The Government decision to accept the NHS Pay Review Body’s recommendation was too little and too late after we have been asking for an early and significant pay rise for health workers for over a year.
“Three per cent will do very little to staunch the escalating recruitment and retention crisis. It is estimated there are 100,000 vacancies in the health service and very little in the way of a plan to recruit the numbers needed.”
