For the third time in a few weeks, rescue workers in England and Wales walked out on Monday. Up to 15,000 emergency doctors, ambulance drivers and employees of emergency centers are on strike for higher wages and better working conditions.
In addition, about 5,000 Liverpool clinic workers are on strike. The UK health service NHS is chronically underfunded and understaffed. Acute emergencies must be handled everywhere.
More money is needed to cope with the crisis
Millions of people wait for routine procedures, patients wait much longer than expected for ambulances. The solution to the growing NHS crisis is obvious, said Unison union secretary Christina McAnea. “It’s simple: the finance minister just needs to find money to pay health workers fairly.”
McAnea added that higher wages would prevent a brain drain and attract new workers. More staff would in turn lead to shorter waiting times for emergency services and patients. “All would be winners,” said the Unison boss.
Dispute over wage increase
The unions point to high real wage losses in recent years. They therefore demand an increase that is well above the inflation rate of just over ten percent of recent times. The cabinet, on the other hand, is counting on the proposal of a wage committee to pay 4.5 percent more. She rejects talks about stronger increases.
Source: Krone
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