Union launches pay petition
- Published: 26 August 2008 12:08
- Author: Megan Donnelly
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 26 August 2008 12:08
- Reader Responses
A union has launched a national petition to reverse the government's decision to maintain below-inflation pay awards for NHS staff.
The petition by Unite aims to build up pressure on the government to re-open negotiations with the trade unions and professional associations over the three year pay deal, which currently stands at 7.99% over three years.
Unite national officer for health, David Fleming, said: 'Our members feel very real anger at this slap-in-the face from government for all their dedicated work 365 days-a-year.
They voted overwhelmingly against this derisory pay deal, as they can see the cost-of-living soaring and their household bills going thorough the roof on a daily basis.'
The petition says that NHS staff deserve a 'fair pay award' and that the present deal is 'poor reward for staff who deliver vital health care services to patients, service users and local communities, and it will cause long-term damage to the morale of NHS staff'.
Unite hope to present the petition to Downing Street later in the year.
The petition can be downloaded at www.unitetheunion.com/health
