After months of the government refusing to talk about pay, strike action by health workers was successful in getting unions into the room for talks. Following tough negotiations, there’s now an offer for NHS staff to consider.
Unison’s NHS committee judged the offer worth recommending. But it is for union members to decide. The union’s consultation of around 280,000 NHS staff across England runs until Friday 14 April.
“This is more than the government ever wanted to invest in pay this year or next”
If health workers across the NHS accept the offer, they’ll get – in addition to the pay increase received last autumn – an extra one-off lump sum. This starts at £1,655 for the lowest-paid staff and rises in value up the bands.
The offer also includes a permanent 5% wage rise, on all pay points for 2023-24, which is worth at least £1,065. It also raises the lowest pay point in the NHS above the real living wage.
For example, a nurse at the top of band 5 is being offered a lump sum worth £2,009, and a pay rise worth £1,647 from 1 April. Health workers can use Unison’s calculator to see what the offer means for them.
This is more than the government ever wanted to invest in pay this year or next, though not as much as health workers deserve. It’s the best to be achieved through negotiation, and gives NHS staff an alternative to losing more pay through strike action.
The judgement call for health workers will be the 5% figure for the next year. It’s below current inflation, but this is set to drop significantly over the course of the year.
The offer might not be as generous as that made to Scottish NHS workers but it does compare favourably to settlements in other sectors. For example, the 9% over two years (4% for 2022-23 and 5% for 2023-24) for Network Rail staff and the 12% over two years (7% for 2022-23 and 5% for 2023-24) for firefighters.
Unlike the usual NHS pay rise that’s implemented regardless of the views of staff, this offer is conditional. It will only be paid if unions vote to accept. A vote to reject would likely see the one-off payment disappear and leave health workers waiting for the uncertain outcome of the NHS Pay Review Body. The government has told the review body it could only afford 3.5%, so that’s a risk. That’s why Unison is recommending health workers accept.
Crucially, this offer to our members does not include the distraction of a nurse-only pay award or separate pay spine. Nurses are by far our largest membership group, but Unison is also multidisciplinary. The contribution of the entire NHS team is valued, especially allied health professionals who work so closely with nurses across acute, mental health and community services. Unison has worked with other unions to ensure this offer is inclusive and covers every role and occupation on NHS pay scales.
If our members reject the offer, Unison will press ahead with further ballots and strikes. Around 30,000 Unison members – in ambulance services, the National Blood and Transplant Service, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and several hospitals – are currently covered by a strike mandate.
Our judgement is that there is more on the table now than health workers would get from the lengthy pay review body process. But, ultimately, members must look at what the offer means for them and then make their own decision.
Sara Gorton is head of health, Unison