Nursing Pay in Wales

The RCN’s formal dispute with the Welsh government regarding pay for 2022/23 and 2023/24 has now come to an end. This comes as members accepted the latest offer from the Welsh government surrounding non-pay elements to improve the working lives of nursing staff, following a consultative ballot between 31 July-3 August 2023. Read the offer in full.

RCN Wales will now work in social partnership to support the implementation of these non-pay elements. We will hold Welsh government and NHS employers to account to ensure this is achieved with a current timeline of April 2024.

RCN Wales will continue to ensure that fair pay for nursing in relation to pay for 2024/25 and beyond remains on the agenda, led by our members’ voice.

What have members received already?

Previously, an offer announced in April was implemented, despite RCN members in Wales and the Society of Radiographers rejecting the offer, as a majority across all health trade unions voted to accept it. RCN Wales members received the additional payments for both 2022/23 and 2023/24. Read more in our member news story.

How did we get here? The collective power of our members

Two rounds of RCN strike action across Wales took place in December 2022 and June 2023, and one round of strike action due to take place in February 2023 was cancelled due to the Welsh government agreeing to return to the table to negotiate. Strike action, and the threat of further strike action, led to repeated improved offers from the Welsh government, which shows the collective power of our members’ voices.

Going forward, strike action is not the only tool members can use to achieve results. Your voice has been heard and your collective power has meant that Welsh government and NHS Employers have been made to listen.