Some 900,000 British public sector workers are getting a pay rise in recognition for their work during the pandemic - but shockingly, nurses are not included.
Key workers have played a vital role in bringing the coronavirus crisis under control and now many are being rewarded for their vital contributions with a long-overdue pay rise.
Doctors, dentists, teachers, police officers and soldiers are among the workers who will see an increase in their wages, which will be of up to 3.1% and will be above inflation.
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But NHS staff in other roles appear to have fallen through the cracks and were left out of the announcement altogether.
This is thought to be because nurses agreed a three-year pay deal back in 2018 securing a pay increase of 6.5%, expiring in April 2021.
Announcing the pay increases, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "These past months have underlined what we always knew, that our public sector workers make a vital contribution to our country and that we can rely on them when we need them.
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"It's right, therefore, that we follow the recommendations of the independent pay bodies with this set of real-terms pay rises."
Nurses and social workers have taken to Twitter to air their views on being left out of the pay rise, which some called "a slap in the face".
One wrote: "Imagine risking your life everyday being a frontline nurse during a pandemic and not getting a pay-rise and having to watch people who have been at home for months getting bonuses."
Another agreed: "I could genuinely cry reading this, nothing for nurses or healthcare workers. I've watched more people die in the past 5 months than I have in my full nursing career. Pure slap in the face. Good thing all they claps will go towards my deposit for a house!"
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"No pay rise for nurses. A real slap in the face after risking my life in a pandemic. Not happy," commented a third.
While another chimed in: "Because nurses, junior doctors, porters etc didn't play a major part in the pandemic therefore wont be getting a sweet little pay rise?? @BorisJohnson f*** you."
It's worth noting that the pay increases aren't consistent across the UK, either.
For instance, police, prison officers and National Crime Agency staff will only be entitled to a pay increase in England and Wales.
Here's the full breakdown of pay increase percentages:
- School teachers - 3.1%
- Doctors and dentists - 2.8%
- Police officers - 2.5%
- Armed forces - 2%
- National crime agency - 2.5%
- Prison officers - 2.5%
- Judiciary - 2%
- Senior civil servants - 2 %
- Senior military - 2%
Topics: News, NHS, Boris Johnson, Politics, Health
