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Nurses protest pay snub amid 'below-inflation' award
12 Feb
Summary
- NHS staff are angry at a pay award below inflation.
- Nurses will not tolerate disrespect after years at the bottom.
- Doctors' pay review report is delayed, with strikes looming.

Hard-pressed NHS staff are reacting with anger to a recommended 3.3% pay award, which union leaders describe as below inflation. Helga Pile from Unison highlighted that staff are expected to deliver more while their pay effectively diminishes compared to living costs. The government in England asserted this represents an above-inflation award, citing a 2% forecast for the coming year. This award will be reflected in pay packets by early April.
In parallel, the decision on pay for doctors remains uncertain, with the relevant pay body's report yet to be delivered to ministers. The government is actively engaged in discussions with the British Medical Association concerning the pay for resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors. BMA members have recently renewed their mandate for strike action, extending it by six months, following 14 previous strikes in an ongoing dispute.




