Royal College of Nursing rejects increment freeze proposal
Published: 13 January 2011
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (13 January) rejected proposals by NHS Employers to freeze incremental pay for all NHS staff in England, in exchange for a ‘no compulsory redundancy’ guarantee for some staff. The RCN called the proposals ‘illogical’ and said they were an ‘attack upon hard-working nurses’.
Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:
“The RCN is rejecting these proposals after hearing from nursing staff up and down the country who are furious with the plans. Since the proposals were first put to the staff side, RCN Council has embarked on a comprehensive process of engagement with our members to test their views. The RCN now believes that these proposals are divisive and an unwarranted attack upon hard-working nurses. Asking staff to give up their increments when in return only some will have a guarantee of no compulsory redundancy is, frankly, just not on. We are also highly sceptical that the Employers would be able to deliver their part of the bargain with job security. After all, the RCN’s Frontline First campaign has already identified 27,000 jobs earmarked to go in the NHS. RCN Council will ratify this decision next week.
“The proposals also coincide with the increase in VAT and continuing anger about bankers’ bonuses. Nurses and healthcare assistants did not argue against the two year pay freeze announced last year as they accepted the argument that ‘we’re all in it together’. However, there isn’t much ‘together’ about it and nurses feel they are being punished for an economic problem that is not of their making.
“This is even more galling when every single day nurses see massive waste and inefficiency in the NHS – poor purchasing contracts, which lead to thousands of pounds difference between what one trust and another spend on the same product; massive management consultancy spend, and huge waste on drugs and equipment.
“We need to be clear about increments - they reward the skills, experience and competence that staff gain each additional year they spend doing a job. Increments also help recruit and retain the highly skilled nurses the NHS and patients depend on.
“Rejecting this offer outright does not mean we don’t want to work together to address the challenges facing the NHS. We will continue a constructive dialogue with the government and employers on the future of the health service.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. 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/newsevents/media
2. On 10th December, NHS Employers tabled a proposal for a two year freeze on increments for NHS staff in England in return for guarantees on job security for some staff – those on Agenda for Change pay bands 1-6
3. 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.