Sunderland health campaigners demand wage boost for all NHS staff

In July the government announced pay rises for almost one million public sector workers following, including teachers, police and doctors, to recognise ‘efforts on the frontline during the battle against COVID-19’.

But the Sunderland branch of the Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) campaign is demanding ministers go further and extend the wage boost to all NHS staff.

According to the group: “After months of hard and dangerous work, in which hundreds of health and care workers have lost their lives to Covid-19 we expected the Government would reward them for their efforts and compensate them for the risks they have endured.

“But the Government refuses. They need more than the applause we heard on Thursday nights during lockdown.”

Campaigners are due to highlight the issue at a socially distanced protest outside Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) from 11am on Saturday (August 8).

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