{"id":248228,"date":"2021-07-22T13:04:08","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T13:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1458545"},"modified":"2021-07-22T13:04:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T13:04:08","slug":"the-tories-3-nhs-pay-rise-is-even-worse-than-it-sounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/07\/22\/the-tories-3-nhs-pay-rise-is-even-worse-than-it-sounds\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tories\u2019 3% NHS pay rise is even worse than it sounds"},"content":{"rendered":"

NHS workers and unions have responded to the government\u2019s confused, last-minute<\/a> announcement of an “insulting<\/a>” 3% pay rise with outrage. After inflation, the proposed pay ‘rise’ amounts to about\u00a00.6%<\/a>. The government has left many NHS staff – such as junior doctors – out of the proposed rise in pay. This means that they’re getting yet another real terms pay cut.<\/p>\n

Unhappy with the pay deal, nurses and trade unions\u00a0are considering<\/a> industrial action. As nurses and unions have highlighted, this really is a kick in the teeth after a decade of underfunding, privatisation, falling wages, and the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.<\/p>\n

Sticking two fingers up at NHS staff<\/h5>\n

On 21 July, health secretary Sajid Javid said<\/a> that the merger pay rise should show NHS workers how much the Tories “value and respect their incredible contribution to our nation”. In a sense, he wasn’t lying. Responding to the government’s announcement<\/a>, this parody Boris Johnson account summarised:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Quick message for NHS staff:#NHSPay<\/a> #NHSPayRise<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Sve942SToh<\/a><\/p>\n

— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) July 21, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n