RCN response to improved pay offer for NHS staff
Published: 24 August 2007
Responding to todays pay offer Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said:
"After several months of hard negotiating and tough campaigning by the RCN and other unions, NHS Employers and the Department of Health have today announced an improved pay offer for nurses and their NHS colleagues.
“For months the government have said they would not move on a fair deal for nurses. But by running a hard-hitting campaign and an industrial action ballot, we have focused the minds of ministers, brought them back to the negotiating table and secured an improved offer for nurses. Our ballot of RCN members in England on whether they wish to move forward with a formal vote on industrial action over pay closes on Monday.
“This offer does not give nurses all that we asked for but it could well be the means to resolve the current dispute and allow us to make progress on a range of workplace and professional issues. The offer will now be considered by the RCN's ruling council alongside the results of our industrial action ballot.”
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Notes to Editors
The offer would see nurses receiving a 50% contribution towards the cost of professional fees each year up until 2010. Low-paid staff on bands three and four who earn between £14,453 and £19,730 would also receive a one-off payment this year of £38. In addition to the improved pay offer for this year, unions, employers and governments have agreed to enter into talks prior to the next pay round, to consider a possible multi-year deal including improvements to the Agenda for Change pay structure and its terms and conditions.
For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.