HEALTH WORKERS AGREE THREE YEAR PAY DEAL
Published: 19 June 2008
Twelve* health unions representing 1.3m health workers have today agreed to sign off the proposed multi-year pay deal, but warned that the built-in re-opener clause would be triggered if inflation continues to rise.
Mike Jackson, UNISON Senior National Officer and lead negotiator said:
“We know that many NHS health workers are struggling to make ends meet and we want to make sure that hard-working staff get the 2.75% pay rise in their pay packets as soon as possible.
“The agreement includes a re-opener clause which we will have no hesitation in triggering if inflation continues to spiral. We will monitor inflation closely and go back to the pay review body to re-negotiate the deal for 2009/10 if we need to. We put the government on notice that we would expect them to respect any findings of the pay review body and ensure that living standards of health workers do not fall.”
Josie Irwin, Head of Employment Relations and Royal College of Nursing (RCN) lead negotiator, said:
"We have worked hard to negotiate this deal for NHS staff. As well as providing a 2.75% increase for all NHS staff, the best deal in the public sector for 2008/9, structural changes mean low paid health workers and new nurses entering the profession in particular, will see further improvements to their pay.
Our consultation responses told us that members recognise this is the best deal that could be negotiated but they are very concerned about the economic situation. That is why we have said we will not hesitate to trigger the re-opener clause if inflation continues to rise."
Ends
* BAOT, BDA, BOS, CDNA, CSP. FCS, GMB, RCM, RCN, SOCP, SOR, and UNISON,
The proposed deal gives 2.75% in the first year.
In year 2 it gives 2.54%. It also establishes for all NHS staff a new minimum wage of £6.77 an hour in that year, that is 18% higher than the statutory rate. Those on the lowest point will receive an increase of 5.7%.
In the third year the proposed deal gives 2.5%. It includes a flat rate increase of £420 (worth 3.17% at the lowest point) for the bottom three grades.
Nurses, midwives and paramedics on the main grade 5 and the bottom of grade 6 will receive extra money on top of the basic increase from the second year, to recognise that more than a quarter have reached their pay ceiling.
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.