Thousands of members unite against regional pay

Published: 31 August 2012

Nearly 10,000 Royal College of Nursing members across the UK have written to their MPs telling them why regional pay in the NHS is wrong and asking them to raise the issue with the Secretary of State for Health.

The Government has signalled that it wants to move away from national pay, terms and conditions. But the RCN, alongside other unions, has said the plans will have serious implications for patient care, local economies and health inequalities, as well as nursing staff.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, has today sent a message to members urging them to stand against regional pay and urging them to join their colleagues who have already used the RCN’s online tool to write to their MPs and declare their opposition.

A pay cartel in the south west of England, comprising 20 NHS trusts, is currently in discussions about reducing annual leave, increasing working hours and attacking other terms and conditions such as sick pay entitlement. If the trusts succeed, the RCN says others across the country could also move to a system of regional pay.