01.12.11
Trusts could not be trusted to abide by rejected no-redundancies deal
Health unions have rejected the no-redundancies offer that would have seen a two-year pay increment freeze - because it would be non-binding and local managers could not be trusted to keep jobs safe.
Unison also said the NHS Employers’ offer, backed by many Trust chief executives as the only way to safeguard jobs, as reported on NHE.com last week, was untenable as it “could not support a further pay freeze” for its members.
The Royal College of Nursing has also spoken out against the suggested deal, which would come on top of the existing pay freeze, and the BMA has added its concerns.
The deal on the table, estimated to save £1.9bn, was that in return for local pay increment freezes for 2011/12 and 2012/13, including an equivalent freeze for senior managers, employers would provide a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for all staff bands 1 to 6; seek to avoid compulsory redundancies for all other staff groups, including consultants and very senior managers; and commit to maintaining training opportunities for junior doctors and dentists.
Mike Jackson, UNISON Senior National Officer for Health, said: “The Service Group Executive said today that they could not support a further pay freeze for nurses, paramedics and other low paid, mainly women workers. The funding gap in the NHS is so great that members were sceptical that Trusts would abide by a no compulsory redundancy agreement for two years.
“Additionally they felt that the offer was divisive because it excluded high level clinicians, such as matrons, senior occupational therapists and midwife supervisors.”
NHS Employers said it was “disappointed” at the union stance and reiterated that jobs could be at threat without a pay deal.
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