Plaid Cymru backs RCN over NHS payrise dispute

NHS staff deserve a real-terms pay rise – Plaid Cymru 

Responding to the news that nurses’ trade union the RCN has lodged a formal dispute with the Welsh government over a 3% NHS pay rise, Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Health and Care, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said, 

“Plaid Cymru supports nurses and their call for fair play. Welsh Government must now come to the table with an offer that recognises the need to reward them properly for their work.

“Healthcare workers have made huge sacrifices throughout the pandemic, putting themselves in harm’s way to protect patients and even spending days if not weeks away from their families in order to carry out their work. 

“The 3 per cent pay rise is a real-terms decrease in pay, since it doesn’t even match inflation. If Welsh Government wants to show their gratitude to the NHS staff in Wales, they must guarantee fair pay for all healthcare workers, they must provide meaningful support to make this an attractive career option for more people, and they must put in place a robust retention strategy.” 

“NHS staff deserve a real-terms pay rise above that proposed by the NHS pay review body. Anything less will fall short of giving some of our most critical workers the recognition they have earned during what will have been some of the toughest months of their professional lives.”