SHOPPERS in Barnsley town centre have been urged to sign a petition in a bid to force the government’s hand and increase frontline NHS workers’ wages.

Members of Barnsley Trades Union Council (BTUC) and Barnsley Save Our NHS will host a stall on Cheapside from 11.30am today with a petition calling on the government to recognise the efforts of NHS workers.

Rachel Harrison, from GMB Union, said: “Nurses are highly trained professionals and increasingly their pay fails to reflect this.

“Many thought this government would play fair and compensate them for the risks and hard work they endured during the height of the pandemic.

“Instead they feel that they have been kicked in the teeth.”