27.01.15
Strike off: Unions to consult members over potential pay deal
Unions have reached a potential breakthrough deal on NHS staff pay and called off this week’s planned strike action by health workers.
The costs of the new pay deal will be borne by higher-paid NHS workers. Unison, GMB, Unite and the RCM have confirmed there is an offer on the table to increase pay for almost all NHS staff by 1%.
The offer includes a consolidated 1% payment for all staff up to Band 8B (£45,707 to £56,504); an additional £200 consolidated payment for lower paid staff (pay points 3-8); and the first point on the pay scale (£14,294) to be abolished and the second raised to £15,100.
The plans will not cost taxpayers more than the £280m originally planned, because staff earning more than £40,558 will not receive an increment rise in April this year. There will also be talks on capping redundancy payouts to staff leaving the NHS from April 2015, with a proposed cap of £160,000.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “I welcome the unions calling off strike action. We have consistently said that we wouldn't agree a pay deal that risked frontline jobs and therefore patient safety.
“This offer achieves that – the NHS pay bill will not increase next year, while we reward hardworking staff.”
There is a commitment from the government to the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) and that the NHSPRB will continue to make future recommendations on pay uplift for NHS staff in 2016-17.
Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary, said: “Following talks we have suspended industrial action and called off Thursday’s strike to consult with our members over the coming days.
“The offer moves the NHS towards becoming a living wage employer and begins to address issues around low pay.
“Members will decide on whether to accept or reject the offer of what we believe is the best that can be achieved by negotiation.”
The unions will consult their members regarding the deal, and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have said they will be recommending that they accept the offer from the government.
Commenting on the deal, Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, said: “I am pleased the government came to the negotiating table to seek a solution. I believe this offer represents the best that can be achieved by negotiations and we will consult with members in England.
“Midwives are caring people who work long hours to give excellent care to women and their babies, often working beyond their shift and through their breaks. Even during our industrial action midwives have maintained safety for women and their families. They deserve to be valued by government and employers.”
Unison’s head of health, Christina McAnea, said that while the deal isn't “a great offer” it does address “some of the key concerns unions have about low pay in the NHS”.
She added: “In the interest of patients' safety unions will now consult members. It will be up to members to decide whether to accept or reject the proposals. If they choose to reject them we will move to further industrial action.”
Reacting to the news on the potential agreement, NHS Employers chief executive Danny Mortimer said: “We are delighted that the strike has been called off. It is the right decision for patients and puts us all in a better position to start talking about long-term solutions.”
Rehana Azam, GMB national officer, said: “GMB is pleased that after a week of talks we have secured a new offer. This enables us to suspend the strike action while we consult with our members on whether they wish to accept the offer or not.”
The Royal College of Nursing, who had not planned to strike but had been lobbying for better pay along with other unions, also welcomed the pay offer.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive & general secretary of RCN said: “This decision goes some way to alleviate the concerns of staff by honouring the independent pay review body’s recommendation for a 1% consolidated rise and helping some of the lowest paid NHS staff.
“The NHS has an army of loyal, committed staff working under unprecedented pressure for their patients, who do not take action lightly. This proposal is an important and much deserved acknowledgment of their dedication.”
He added that the RCN council would now consider the proposals.
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