Health workers unions have announced they will enter new NHS wage talks this week with “extreme caution” after saying the government had months to prevent union action but backed out.
Talks between Unison, GMB, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and other trade unions with health officials begin on Tuesday after ministers promised to discuss a possible new deal for the current and next fiscal year. Most NHS workers have received an average pay rise of 4.5% this year, with those on lower wages receiving more, but unions are demanding more.
Ahead of talks with officials this week, Sarah Gorton, Unison’s chief medical officer, said: “In the first few days, we’ll find out if the talks are serious or just a delaying tactic.
“We are proceeding with extreme caution. It was last July 19 when we first asked the government to understand that the payroll number that has just been released will not be enough to keep people in their jobs on the NHS, and to prevent unions from applying for participation in trade union action.
“We had eight months in which the government could work with us in good faith, first trying to avoid strikes and then trying to prevent them as soon as plans were put forward. Location.
“This is a government that missed every opportunity we gave it to come to a reasonable solution early on, so we are very, very careful, but we are also happy to be in this position and not sit here and talk about strikes. what would we take tomorrow.
Both sides agreed to keep the details of the talks secret until the end of the negotiations, which will begin tomorrow. Unison stated that there would be no strikes during negotiations, but reserves the right to plan further strikes if they fail. However, the ambulance strike for March 20 has not yet been cancelled.
The government has already hinted that it could allocate a maximum of 3.5% to NHS workers under the Change Program Agreement in the coming years, who, along with doctors, dentists and senior managers, make up the majority of NHS workers. Salary increase. However, it was suggested that there might be some margin of error in the negotiations on this figure.
Ms Gorton said: “The factor that told us that there was a significant shift was the confirmation we received from the department. [of Health and Social Care] on Thursday evening that there will be additional investment in overbudget wages for both years. While they won’t get back to numbers and numbers until we start negotiations, it’s that confidence that released the goodwill of our elected committee to say, “We know there’s something here that goes beyond what the members already had.” “. “.
It is understood that discussions may focus on other issues such as staffing, working hours, pay at lower wage rates and how wages are set each year.
Formal wage negotiations are conducted through the NHS Staff Council, which includes representatives from health workers’ unions, NHS employers, Health and Welfare and NHS England. This is followed by complaints from the leader of the union section of the council about the government’s handling of the wage dispute.
The group of 13 unions includes four – Unison, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, GMB and Unite – which are currently involved in labor disputes over NHS wages, staff and patient care. The unions warned the government of its decision to hold unilateral talks with the RCN, saying it could prolong the strikes.
Meanwhile, England’s leading hospital doctors are being asked if they are prepared to go on strike, the country’s largest doctors’ union has announced. The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that councilors will vote on possible strikes on 17 April.
It comes after the BMA conducted a survey to assess whether leading NHS medics are prepared to take action on pay and outstanding pension issues. The advisory vote was sent out to nearly 35,000 councillors, and the BMA received 21,000 responses – about 86 percent of those who responded said they were ready to take part in the strike.
The BMA said that while the deliberative vote would not result in a strike, the poll shows “the strength of the anger among England’s senior doctors” and will move to a legal vote in April. If the councilors vote for it, a strike could start in the spring, the BMA said.
It follows young doctors in England who voted overwhelmingly for a 72-hour strike to take place on March 13th. Up to 47,600 medics will go on strike without emergency assistance over a wage dispute, blaming the government.
Sir Julian Hartley, CEO of NHS Providers, said: “This move by advisers is another worrying development for NHS trust leaders, on top of the looming three-day strike by junior doctors. Consultant strikes will put even more pressure on an overburdened service. Patient safety and patient care are paramount. Trust leaders are urging the government and the BMA to find a solution quickly.”
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it would not comment on the talks on an ongoing basis, but its latest statement said: “We are pleased that unions – which do not represent the majority of paramedics, nurses, physiotherapists, porters, cleaners and others – Medical staff have agreed to suspend strikes and start a process of intensive negotiations.
“We want to find a fair and sensible solution that recognizes the important role played by NHS workers, the broader economic pressure the UK is facing and the prime minister’s priority to halve inflation.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.