Sheffield NHS pay protest 'called off' after £10,000 fine issued in Manchester
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The protest against the Government’s 1 per cent pay award for nurses was due to take place at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital this afternoon at 4pm.
However, the event has now been cancelled after the organiser of a similar protest in Manchester on Sunday was given a £10,000 fine.
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Hide AdThe 61-year-old woman was issued with the fixed penalty notice after 40 people turned up at St Peter’s Square in Manchester in contravention of the current coronavirus restrictions.
The organiser of the Sheffield protest, nurse and union rep Joan Pons Laplana, said they simply couldn’t afford for the same thing to happen to them.
He said: “In view of yesterday’s police action in Manchester, we have decided to cancel today’s protest as we can’t afford a £10,000 fine.
“I feel that as long as we keep social distance and wearing masks we should be allowed to protest but £10,000 is outrageous.
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Hide Ad“Several ministers and politicians have broken the quaratine rules including Mr Johnson but have not been fined.”
Last week, the Government announced that some NHS staff would only get a 1 per cent pay rise this year, saying that was all the country could currently afford.
The Royal College of Nurses have called for a 12.5 per cent pay rise and have set up a £35m strike fund should its members decide to take industrial action.