End nurses' pay inequality
Published: 13 March 2007
The Royal College of Nursing in Wales today welcomed the announcement from Andy Kerr, the Health Minister Scotland that Scotland intends to implement the Review Body's recommended increase of 2.5 per cent from 1 April in full, rejecting the staging proposed by Westminster.
Two weeks ago the government indicated that it would seek to ignore the recommendation of the Pay Review Body that sets nurses’ pay and impose a below inflation pay award of 2.5% on nurses to be paid in two instalments, equating to a pay award of just 1.9%. RCN Wales seeks full implementation of the Review Body's recommendations across the UK. Nurses are a mobile workforce across the UK and the RCN believes they should receive the same basic salary for the same skills and expertise wherever they work in the UK.
Tina Donnelly, Director RCN Wales, said: “We are calling for Dr Brian Gibbons, the Health Minister for Wales, to join with his Scottish counterpart to increase pressure on Westminster to review the decision to stage this year's award. It is now time the government shows just how much it values nurses by giving them a fair and decent pay award that reflects their skill and dedication to the profession. The pay announcement has been particularly bad news for nurses working in Wales because many have not been fully implemented on Agenda for Change, the pay and conditions modernisation package for NHS staff.”
Two weeks ago the government indicated that it would seek to ignore the recommendation of the Pay Review Body that sets nurses’ pay and impose a below inflation pay award of 2.5% on nurses to be paid in two instalments, equating to a pay award of just 1.9%. RCN Wales seeks full implementation of the Review Body's recommendations across the UK. Nurses are a mobile workforce across the UK and the RCN believes they should receive the same basic salary for the same skills and expertise wherever they work in the UK.
Tina Donnelly, Director RCN Wales, said: “We are calling for Dr Brian Gibbons, the Health Minister for Wales, to join with his Scottish counterpart to increase pressure on Westminster to review the decision to stage this year's award. It is now time the government shows just how much it values nurses by giving them a fair and decent pay award that reflects their skill and dedication to the profession. The pay announcement has been particularly bad news for nurses working in Wales because many have not been fully implemented on Agenda for Change, the pay and conditions modernisation package for NHS staff.”