Pay Cartel
Published: 01 June 2012
NHS Organisations form Pay Cartel in the South West
The RCN, with other health unions from across the region, has responded to a leaked document which details plans for 16 NHS Trusts to create a consortium aimed at changing nationally agreed terms and conditions of staff.
Jeannett Martin, Director, RCN South West said:
“The Royal College of Nursing are shocked that at this time of financial hardship 16 NHS Trusts in the region have committed £160,000 into a scheme to cut pay, terms and conditions for hard working NHS staff. This money will be taken out of patient care and would be better spent on improving local health services. ‘Agenda for Change’ - the nationally set terms and conditions for the NHS, allied to national pay rates - provides a fair, transparent system. It means that in any part of the country, employers know they can recruit staff with the right skills and experience to give patients the care that they need."
"Cutting pay could only be a short term fix without regard to the risks and costs associated with implementing this – unfair dismissal claims initially, followed by equal pay claims, staff mobility in search of higher pay and the time and expense for each Trust to negotiate for themselves on an annual basis.”
“This will further damage the morale and motivation of staff across the NHS workforce and this could have serious implications for the recruitment and retention of staff as well as a potentially devastating impact on the region's economy.” - ends -