Commenting on the announcement today (Thursday) that NHS staff in England are to receive a 3.6% pay rise this year, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:
“The pay rise is more than ministers said they could afford, but it barely matches inflation. The money will also be landing in pay packets four months late.
“Health workers had high hopes this government would have learned from the mistakes of its predecessors.
“But a reliance on the slow, outdated and unnecessary pay review body process has once again failed to deliver.
“Direct talks between ministers and unions in Scotland showed what’s possible, with an 8% two-year deal and inflation-proof guarantee.
“And not everyone in the NHS is getting the same. The absurd pay review body process has led to two different awards for employees. But the NHS is one team and should be treated that way.
“Nurses, porters, paramedics, healthcare assistants, cleaners and other workers on Agenda for Change contracts will feel less valued than their doctor colleagues. That will generate more discontent from an already demoralised workforce.
“So long as coffee shops, supermarkets and parcel delivery firms pay more than the NHS, staff will go on leaving. Without an emergency top-up last month to the lowest-paid workers, NHS trusts would have breached minimum wage laws.
“The ridiculous pay process continues to give employers a real headache. Just a few pennies more and low-paid staff would be on the real living wage. A few pounds extra and employers wouldn’t face losing much-needed overseas staff because they don’t meet the visa threshold.
“Ministers must also get to grips with the shortcomings of the NHS salary structure. Government promises last year to begin talks on this went nowhere and the failure to act is causing health employers major problems.
“Improving the fortunes of the NHS is a key government pledge. Soon ministers will publish the ten-year plan setting out how they intend to do that.
“It’s vital the government gets staff on board. This pay announcement will do little to achieve this.”
The article NHS staff likely to be disappointed with this year’s pay rise first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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