17 MARCH 2023 | NEWS
NHS unions have reached a “major breakthrough” after getting a pay deal with the Government to end long-running strike disputes.
The offer includes the following:
- – A one-off payment of 2% of their salary.
- – A COVID recovery bonus of 4% for the current financial year 2022/23.
- – A 5% pay increase for 2023/24.
It will apply to key NHS workers, including nurses and paramedics but not junior doctors, who are involved in a separate dispute over pay and conditions.
The news has led to unions suspending further industrial action by ambulance and other NHS staff. It is reported that unions will also recommend accepting the new pay increase for NHS workers.
Ambulance members of Unison and Unite were due to strike next Monday, and physiotherapists were going to walk out later this month, but the action has been called off.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said it was a “fair pay rise” that would also protect the Government’s commitment to halve inflation.
“I hugely admire the incredible work of NHS staff. I look forward to continuing our work together to make the NHS a better place to work,” he added.
The Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the GMB have all decided to back the deal. However, Unite the Union has said it will not recommend it to members but will put it to a vote.
Unison head of health Sara Gorton said: “It’s a shame it took so long to get here.
“Health workers had to take many days of strike action, and thousands more had to threaten to join them to get their unions into the room and proper talks underway.”
Responding to the news of a pay rise, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted:
“It’s right that we reward our hard-working NHS staff. Today’s pay offer is affordable for taxpayers and continues to deliver on my promise to halve inflation. I’m pleased staff can now get back to providing world-class care for patients.”
A Downing Street spokesperson added that the rise for the coming year would also not stoke inflation, since “5% is broadly in line with pay growth in the wider economy, so we don’t see it impacting private sector pay, which ultimately leads to inflation”.
Ministers have said that they can guarantee there will be no impact on front-line services due to the pay offer, and that there will be further discussions between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Treasury over how it will be funded.
