What Just Happened?
Throughout 2020, NHS workers worked tirelessly to save thousands of lives across the UK. While their efforts have been praised via social media channels and “clap for carers” last year, NHS workers are still being overlooked by the government after requests for a 15% pay rise have been ignored. [[1]]
What Does This Mean?
At the start of July 2020, more than 10 NHS unions started to challenge the government to recognise the hard, yet undervalued work by NHS workers, hoping to open up negotiations for a planned pay rise to be implemented in 2021. This campaign received supporters across the UK, which included a Facebook group of more than 80,000 people and peaceful protests all over cities in the UK during August and September. [[2]] [[3]] [[4]]
During these protests, NHS workers listed a few demands: 15% pay raise for all staffs, protection of NHS from becoming a private institution and an integration between health and social care. [[5]]
“Without nurses, health care assistants, porters, cleaners and the entire NHS family we could not have made it through […] The government is squeezing our amazing national health service from all sides, and we cannot take it anymore. We say NO to privatisation, deliberate underfunding, low wages and poor conditions”. [[6]]
What Does This Mean For The Legal Sector?
Commercial law firm – Primas, has recently launched a free hotline to assist employees by offering them free legal advice on tackling issues such as finance and statutory rights. The firm would like to extend their appreciation towards all the hard work done by the healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis as managing partner Adam Kerr stated: “After speaking to a couple of my friends working on the frontline in the NHS, running the idea of free legal advice by them, they assured me people would be hugely grateful for the offer.” [[7]]
Another law firm – Slater Heelis LLP also took part in offering legal advice for NHS workers. Healthcare workers are being offered a free one-hour consultation for any family issues such as mediation, child arrangements, separation, domestic violence, financial separation, divorce/dissolution and many more. These complementary services are offered to show a token of appreciation for all NHS staff throughout England and Wales.
Written by Elene Chuah
References:
[1] iTV News, “NHS staff and supporters in Bristol take to the streets in pay rise protest”, (iTV news, 8th August 2020) https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-08-08/nhs-staff-and-supporters-in-bristol-take-to-the-streets-in-pay-rise-protest
[2] Jack MacBean, “NHS Workers Are Saying No, Now It’s Time for Unions to Step Up”, (Novara Media, 13th August 2020) https://novaramedia.com/2020/08/13/nhs-workers-are-saying-no-now-its-time-for-unions-to-step-up/
[3] Jack MacBean, “NHS Workers Are Saying No, Now It’s Time for Unions to Step Up”, (Novara Media, 13th August 2020) https://novaramedia.com/2020/08/13/nhs-workers-are-saying-no-now-its-time-for-unions-to-step-up/
[4] Megan Ford, “Nurses ‘continue fight’ for pay increase amid protest cancellations”, (NursingTimes.net, 14th September 2020) https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/workforce/nurses-continue-fight-for-pay-increase-amid-protest-cancellations-14-09-2020/
[5] Simon Dawson, “NHS pay demonstration – in pictures”, (The Guardian, 8th August 2020) https://www.theguardian.com/society/gallery/2020/aug/08/nhs-pay-demonstration-in-pictures#:~:text=A%20demonstration%20protesting%20the%20government's%20handling%20of%20the%20coronavirus%20crisis%20in%20London.&text=NHS%20staff%20across%20the%20UK,pay%20deal%20negotiated%20in%202018.
[6] NHS Workers say NO!, “NHS Workers Say NO! to Public Sector pay inequality”, (Facebook.com, 2020) https://www.facebook.com/groups/314519933024565
[7] Gary Skentelbery, “WARRINGTON based commercial law firm, Primas, has launched a new freephone number to provide free legal advice to NHS employees.'”, (Warrington Worldwide, 12th June 2020) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-53664749
Disclaimer: This article (and any information accessed through links in this article) is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.