David Rowe, the Labour Party candidate for Felixstowe North and Trimley in May’s local elections, has hit out at the Tory government’s derisory offer of a 1% pay rise for NHS staff.

David joined the Unite and Unison trade unions and the Royal College of Nursing in condemning Rishi Sunak’s budget, which would see an experienced nurse take home no more than £3.50 extra per week.

David said:

“I am fighting for better pay for all key workers. Nurses and NHS staff who put their lives on the line during the pandemic deserve better than the insulting 1% offered by the Government. Nurses’ pay has fallen by around 10% in real terms since 2010. This is effectively yet another pay cut.

 

“Nursing staff are being made to pay for the cost of the pandemic. It is a political decision to underfund and undervalue nursing staff.

 

“All key workers, including NHS workers and their trade unions, have my support and the support of Suffolk Coastal Labour Party in their fight for better pay.”

The Tories cynically call health workers and other key workers heroes, and then continue to kick them in the teeth. The government is out of step with the public who want to see nurses, porters, hospital cleaners, and other essential staff properly rewarded. NHS workers deserve more than just a clap. They deserve a decent pay rise.