NHS staff demand 3.9% rise after government scrapped public sector pay cap
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NHS staff have demanded a 3.9% rise after the Government finally lifted the public sector pay cap.
Fourteen trade unions representing around a million nurses and other medical staff have written to the Chancellor to ask for the inflation-busting increase, plus an extra £800 in compensation for the 15% real terms cut in wages they have seen since the cap was imposed in 2010.
The letter comes after the 1% public sector pay cap was lifted for police officers - who are now in line for a 1% lump sum and a 1% rise in 2017/18 - and prison staff.
Millions of workers have seen their pay packets fall since a freeze on salaries was announced in 2010, followed by pay rises being capped at 1% from 2013 onwards.
The medical unions said it was unfair some professions would benefit from the lifted pay cap, and others would not.
The unions - which represent nurses, midwifes, porters and more - said the pay hike would cost the Government £2.5bn.
Janet Davies, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said wage deflation was resulting in nurses leaving the NHS.
"When ministers hold pay down, it drives too many nurses out of the NHS," she said.
Sara Gorton, head of health for Unison, said: “Health workers have gone without a proper pay rise for far too long.
"Their wages continue to fall behind inflation as food and fuel bills, housing and transport costs rise."
A government spokeswoman said: "Public sector workers, including NHS staff, do a fantastic job, and the government is committed to ensuring they can continue to deliver world-class public services.
"The Government will continue to ensure that the overall package is fair while also being affordable to taxpayers as a whole."
