NHS unions have reached a wage deal with the government that could end a longstanding dispute that led to historic strikes.
The offer, which includes a lump sum payment for the 2022/23 financial year plus a 5 percent pay increase in 2023/24, is for NHS staff including nurses, paramedics, 999,911 attendants, midwives, caregivers, security guards and cleaners. .
This does not apply to paramedics who are involved in a separate legal dispute.
The Royal College of Nursing, GMB, Unison, the Certified Physiotherapy Society and the British Dietetic Association said they would recommend that their members accept the offer, but Unite said it was not enough.
NHS payment offer explained
Under the agreement, NHS staff covered by the Agenda for Change scheme will receive a lump sum payment of 2 percent of their salary in 2022/23.
They will also receive what is known as the “NHS Backlog Bonus” which “recognizes the ongoing pressure the NHS has faced since the pandemic and the extraordinary efforts made by staff to meet backlog recovery goals.”
The bonus is a minimum of £1250 per person but is set based on experience and salary scale. For example, an average grade 5 nurse is paid £1,350.
In fiscal year 2023/24, NHS staff will be offered a 5 percent pay increase.
Health Minister Steve Barclay said the deal means a newly qualified nurse will receive more than £1,800 this year, plus a salary increase of more than £1,300 next year.
Will NHS staff accept this offer?
The Royal College of Nursing, GMB, Unison, the Certified Society of Physiotherapists and the British Dietetic Association will encourage members to take advantage of this offer.
Participants will have the opportunity to vote on this in the coming weeks, during which time all strikes will be suspended. These include ambulance strikes scheduled for next week.
However, Unite said the proposal was not good enough. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the union, said: “The government proposal cannot recommend Unite to our members.
“It is clear that this government does not care about the interests of the workers or the NHS. Her behavior and contempt for NHS workers and workers in general is evident in her actions. Britain’s economy is in ruins and the workers are paying the price.”
Pat Cullen, Secretary General of the RCN, said: “The government was forced to enter into these negotiations and reinstate the award due to historical pressure from nurses. The participants made the most difficult decisions to go on strike, and I believe that today they were won.
“After difficult negotiations, here are a number of commitments that our members believe will have a positive impact on the nursing profession, the NHS and the people who rely on it.
“Our members will give their opinion on this, and I respect everyone’s point of view. Everyone should take a close look at what this means to them.
“In addition to the additional funds now available, we have made real progress with the government on safer workforce measures, a new pay structure for carers, development of junior staff, and pensions.
“It’s not a panacea, but it’s really tangible progress, and RCN leaders are asking other nurses to support what our talks have achieved.”
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, called the proposal “a massive push for the lowest-income people to stay well above actual livelihoods.”
The Minister of Health said: “I greatly admire the incredible work done by NHS staff, including during the pandemic, and the progress they have made in addressing the problem.
“This proposal will provide nurses, paramedics, physical therapists and other non-medical personnel with a fair pay increase while protecting our ambition 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.