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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Health unions are uniting for militant collective action
There is a growing awareness that protecting front-line NHS staff is integral to the struggle to keep healthcare free in this country, writes HELEN O'CONNOR
A protest in support of an NHS pay rise in summer 2020

THE NHSpay15 grassroots campaign which began at the height of the pandemic last summer has created new layers of enthusiastic NHS trade union activists.

It is no coincidence that GMB NHS reps organised and led much of the recent national NHS birthday activity. All skills gained via community organising are easily transferrable into organising strong trade unions within the NHS.

Thanks to the NHSpay15 campaign there is now a growing recognition that the pay, terms and conditions of NHS workers are linked to patient safety because the severe and chronic drain of experienced staff out of the NHS puts patients at risk of harm.

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