Sheffield City Council campaigners lead Green Party call for 15% pay rise for NHS workers

Sheffield City Council campaigners lead Green Party call for 15% pay rise for NHS workers

The Green Party has backed calls for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers at its Spring Conference, following the Government’s derisory proposal for a 1% increase.

The emergency motion was proposed by Rebecca Mulvaney, the Green Party candidate for Crookes and Crosspool for May’s Sheffield City Council elections, and was co-proposed by Maroof Raouf, Green Party candidate for Nether Edge and Sharrow ward.

The motion sets out how the 1% pay rise, which would mean a rise of just £3.50 a week for nurses, provides no recognition of the work undertaken by those in the health and care sector throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The motion commits the party to support the demands of the grassroots NHS Workers Say No to Public Sector Pay Inequality and Nurses United campaigns, including a restorative 15% pay rise for health and care workers on Agenda for Change contracts and for outsourced services in the NHS to be brought back in house.

The party will also support the ongoing Moving Forwards on NHS Pay campaign, led by 14 trade unions representing more than 1.3 million members, to secure a fair pay rise for health and care workers.

Rebecca Mulvaney, Green Party candidate for Crookes and Crosspool ward, said:

“Since 2010, successive governments have imposed a public sector pay freeze that has led to a real-terms reduction in pay of around 15%.

A 15% pay rise for health service staff now, would help to right the wrongs of austerity and recognise their incredible contribution throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We must reverse the pay erosion and pay poverty that has blighted the past decade of incomes for some of our most dedicated NHS workers including nurses, paramedics and healthcare assistants.

“I am delighted that Conference backed this motion, thank you to everyone who supported it, and to the Green Party Trade Union Group for their support.”

Sheffield nurse and #NHSPay15 campaigner Holly Johnston, said:

“We appreciate the Green Party’s commitment to a fairer and more sustainable future for our society. A 15% pay restoration for NHS staff would not only bring us in line with where we were 10 years ago and provide a liveable wage for workers, but would mean investing in the future of the NHS.”

Maroof Raouf, Green Party candidate for Nether Edge and Sharrow ward, added:

“A decade of austerity has put a huge amount of pressure on public services. Staff in the NHS have saved thousands of lives over the course of the coronavirus crisis despite the best efforts of Conservative ministers.

“The Green Party is clearly standing behind the unions’ call for a 15% pay increase so that we can properly thank staff for their incredible work over the course of the last year.”