Health workers unions have reached a new agreement with the government that puts a stop to further strikes by nurses, paramedics and other NHS workers.
The breakthrough was followed by days of negotiations with the government over a longstanding wage dispute.
This has led to a wave of strikes by nurses, paramedics, orderlies and other healthcare workers in recent months – here’s all you need to know.
What are the terms of the NHS offer?
According to Unison, the wage offer for NHS workers in England includes an additional one-time payment of 6 percent for 2022-2023, the value of which increases on the pay scale, as well as a 5 percent wage increase across all pay items for 2023. year. -24.
The one-time fee is £1,655 for Group 2 lower tier staff (e.g. porters, cleaners and nursing assistants), £2,009 for Group 5 upper tier staff (Nurses, Midwives, Physiotherapists), £2,162 at Upper sixth group (paramedics, patrons, senior occupational therapists) and £3,789 for staff in the upper part of the ninth group.
This 6% payment for this fiscal year consists of the 4% payment already on the table, plus a lump sum 2% payment, which the government has called an “NHS late payment bonus” of at least £1,250 per person.
The 2023-2024 offer is a significant increase from the 3.5% offered when the strike began.
Not included are young doctors who have gone on strike for 72 hours this week and have not yet entered into negotiations over their own wage dispute.
The ministers said they could ensure that the wage offer would not harm frontline services.
There will be further talks between DHSC and the Treasury on how this will be funded – the deal will cost the government £2.5bn.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal was “available to the taxpayer and continues to deliver on my promise to halve inflation.”
Health Minister Steve Barclay added that “a balance is needed on both sides” to reach an agreement.
He said: “Obviously the starting position of a number of unions was much higher, so both sides worked together to reach an agreement that is both accessible to a wider range of taxpayers and offsets the very real pressure we face to recognize that NHS staff was there”.
What does the NHS strike mean?
Strikes by nurses and other NHS workers who have disrupted the service in recent months have been put on hold in a new deal.
Ambulance workers from Unison and Unite were supposed to go on strike on Monday, March 20, and physical therapists on Wednesday, March 22, but the action was canceled.
Union members will now vote to accept the deal, and Unite refuses to recommend the proposal to its members, although it adds that it will respect the outcome of the vote.
Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, said: “The government proposal cannot recommend Unite to our members, but in the end it is important that our members make the final decision.
“Unite will support the members in whatever decision they make now. While Unite members are being consulted, the strike is suspended.”
While Sarah Gorton, Unison’s health chief, said “It’s a pity it took so long to get here,” she added that the union would recommend to its members that they accept the deal.
She said: “If the proposal is accepted, it will significantly raise wages this year and next year will mean higher wage growth than the government budgeted.
“This is better than waiting many more months for advice from the NHS Pay Review Board.
“Unison will be presenting and recommending this proposal to hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers in the union in the coming weeks.
“In the coming days, medical professionals will have the opportunity to study all the details of the proposal and decide whether this is enough to end the dispute. While this process is going on, all planned strikes are suspended.”
GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison said the government had gone from refusing to discuss wages to allocating an additional £2.5bn this year and unions should “rightfully be proud of themselves”.
She said: “If the proposal is accepted, it will meet the GMB’s important demand for significant wage increases for the lowest paid to keep them well above the real standard of living.”
Ms Harrison added: “This offer is far from perfect and of course our NHS workers deserve better. The GMB National Committee recommends acceptance of the proposal, but the final decision rests with our members.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “As unions consult with their members on the proposed NHS wage proposal, it is important to recognize the position of every union member who has voted to strike in recent weeks and months.”
Additional report from the Press Association
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.