The Mirror campaign to give healthcare heroes a pay supplement as they battle Covid is now just 600 signatures short of forcing the Government to respond.
In May we launched a petition on Parliament’s website backed by former Labour PM Tony Blair.
It called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a special daily allowance for nurses, doctors, support staff and care workers risking their lives.
The pay supplement would be based on the extra tax-free daily operational allowance given to our armed forces in war zones.
And as nurses fight for a 12.5 per cent pay rise the supplement is needed more than ever to tide them over until they get it.
NHS staff have now been told they must work even harder if that is possible.
They have been ordered to prepare to give jabs night and day if a Covid vaccine is available before Christmas.
Mr Blair said: “Well done to the Sunday Mirror for inspiring this campaign to recognise the enormous efforts of all our NHS staff and care workers.
“Every single day they show incredible bravery and commitment, for which they deserve the country’s fullest support.”
And Former head of the Army, General Lord Dannatt added: “All the talk is about our heroic NHS and care workers on the front line, just as we talked about our brave Armed Forces men and women on the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“But the difference is that we gave our soldiers an extra daily allowance to fight on our behalf, so why are we not doing the same on the NHS and care frontline?
“Their lives are on the line, just like our soldiers – fair is fair, I say.”
The Royal College of Nursing is calling on everyone who clapped on their doorsteps to support their campaign for fair pay.
It comes ahead of the Chancellor’s one-year spending review later this month expected to include the NHS pay settlement.
RCN boss Donna Kinnair said: “The clapping was powerful and lifted spirits. But the Government must grasp the nettle and value the work of nursing staff.
“It shouldn’t have taken a pandemic and public applause to shine a light on this work. Now is the opportunity to end years of injustice.”
A survey by Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation which found three-in-four care workers are paid below the real Living Wage.
Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “This situation was wrong before this pandemic, but now it is absolutely unconscionable.
“After all that they have done for all of us, a pay rise is the very least that our care worker heroes deserve”.
You can help them by signing the Sunday Mirror’s petition on Parliament’s website - click here to find the petition.
When we reach 10,000 signatures it will receive a Government response.
Once we hit 100,000 signatures it will be considered by the Commons Petitions Committee for a full-blown debate by MPs.
So every name counts towards getting quick action.
The petition reads: “Nurses, doctors, care workers and support staff are putting their lives on the line every day to save others.
“The Sunday Mirror is calling on the Government to give them an immediate pay supplement for the duration of the crisis in recognition of what they do.
“Those battling on the NHS frontline and care workers tending the elderly and vulnerable are the bravest of the brave in the war against Covid-19.
“When our armed forces are posted to combat zones they receive a daily, tax free operational allowance while there.
“Chancellor Rishi Sunak should introduce a similar scheme now for our courageous corona warriors.
“It is the least a grateful nation can do to say thank you.”
