We the undersigned, wish to voice our profound concern and anger at the Government’s attempt to link a long overdue pay rise for nurses and other health workers to cuts to our annual leave entitlement. Health workers have had a 14% pay cut since 2010 and we deserve an above inflation pay rise. But a real pay rise must not be dependent on cuts to our health service or to further attacks on our terms and conditions. The Guardian reports Government negotiators are demanding a cut to our annual leave in return for a below-inflation ‘pay rise’. The UK already has one of the worst annual leave entitlements in Europe. Why should we lose well-deserved annual leave to pay for a below-inflation ‘pay rise’? As with the junior doctors, any attack on health workers’ contracts is not fair and not safe. We demand an end to austerity politics in the NHS and we call on trade union leadership to lead a serious and sustained campaign - including a ballot for strike action - to defend our annual leave, our pay and conditions and save our NHS.