Council backs call for pay rise for nurses and carers
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have backed a motion supporting giving NHS workers carers, nurses and other workers a pay rise before April 2021. The Council Chief Executive will now write to the government urging them to give an early pay rise to NHS staff.
Proposing the motion Hinckley De Montfort Lib Dem Councillor Michael Mulllaney said "Our country and our local community here in Hinckley and Bosworth appreciate the incredible work that nurses, carers and other support staff in the NHS have done during the Covid-19 pandemic. We applauded them on our doorsteps on Thursday nights and the government gave them a badge. But our nurses and carers need more than badges and claps they need a decent pay increase that really appreciates the work they've done.
"It was really sad to see nurses, carers and other NHS staff miss out on the rises that many public sector workers received in July. With over 500 NHS workers and carers having sadly died during the COVID-19 pandemic they deserve a pay rise that reflects the essential and dangerous work they have done. We are sadly facing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which are NHS staff will be faced with. They deserve a pay rise now not have to wait till April 2021 to get one."
Supporting the motion Newbold Verdon and Desford Councillor Mark Bools said " I am proud to have a cousin, mother and aunt who are in the nursing profession.
"Patient care is already seriously compromised by a 40,000 nurse shortage, with a recent study showing 36% of nurses were thinking of leaving the profession and that pay was the main driver.
"With more and more responsibility being put on healthcare staff, with more pressure being placed on them, they need to be payed fairly. The figures are as clear as they are shocking. Nurses are more worse off in real terms than in 2010. RC N analysis shows that, for a band 5 nurse their current salary of £30,600 would have been 15% higher at £36,000 if it had kept pace with inflation"
The motion passed with Liberal Democrat and Labour support the Conservatives declined to participate in the debate.
The wording of the motion was:
Motion from Councillor Mullaney, seconded by Councillor Webber-Jones
"Council recognises the tremendous work carried out by nurses, carers and other health workers here in Hinckley and Bosworth and across Britain during the coronavirus crises.
"Council is appalled at the fact that hard working nurses who did so much during the coronavirus crisis will be denied a pay rise until April 2021 - while MPs will receive significant pay rises.
"Council requests the Chief Executive writes to the Prime Minister to urge the government to reconsider its decision not to raise NHS nurses pay. Nurses here in Leicestershire and across Britain deserve more than applause they deserve proper payment for the essential work they do."