Category: nhs pay

Welsh government’s NHS pay move increases pressure on Westminster, says UNISON 

Commenting on Mark Drakeford’s offer today (Thursday) of additional money for health workers across Wales, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“This significantly ups the pressure on Westminster. Rishi Sunak must now explain why the first ministers in Scotland and Wales can dig deep for NHS staff, but his government can’t.

“The latest NHS England figures show ambulance delays and waiting times in A&E are the worst ever, leaving the prime minister and the chancellor with nowhere to hide.

“Unless ministers move quickly to boost pay for health workers in England, it’ll be plain to the public the government isn’t interested in improving patient care.

“Longer waits for ambulances and in A&E departments are inevitable if the NHS doesn’t get more staff. Better wages are the key to that.

“The tone in parts of government changed this week with a new willingness to talk about pay. It’s time for the prime minister to show he values the NHS by funding the pay rise needed to end the disputes and get the NHS back on track.”

Notes to editors:

– Ambulance staff belonging to UNISON took strike action yesterday (Wednesday) at five services in England – London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West – over pay and staffing. The next strike is planned for Monday 23 January. The union is also re-balloting ambulance workers at five ambulance services in England (South East Coast, South Central, East of England, West Midlands and East Midlands) and the Welsh Ambulance Service. This began on 6 January and continues until Monday 16 February.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union and the largest union in the NHS and in the ambulance sector, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Press contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

 

The article Welsh government’s NHS pay move increases pressure on Westminster, says UNISON  first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Through sun and rain – on the picket lines in Bristol

After an extraordinary day across England, with ambulance workers in five regions taking action on pay and highlighting the crisis in the NHS, it’s time to look back on the day’s events.

Here is a selection of photographs from two pickets in Bristol, at Lansdown Road and Croydon Street, taken by Nigel Goldsmith.

Email ambulance striker with UNISON placard saying 'Put pay right'

Two women on a picket line with a dog, and UNISON banners in the background.

Picket with UNISON flag waving to an ambulance passing by

Pickets with an ambulance

Two pickets, wrapped up against the rain, with UNISON flags, smiling

Two female pickets with umbrellas, smiling

Pickets in the rain, by a road

Two pickets, with placard and flag, waving at a passing car, which is blurred by its speed

Two male pickets with placard and flag

Pickets with two ambulances behind them, in the rain

The article Through sun and rain – on the picket lines in Bristol first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ongoing disputes make it impossible to submit evidence to NHS pay review body, say health unions 

Health unions won’t be submitting joint evidence to the NHS pay review body for the next wage round while the current industrial disputes remain unresolved, it has been announced today (Wednesday).

Instead, the 14 unions – representing more than one million ambulance staff, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and other NHS workers in England – have called for direct pay talks with ministers.

Unions believe the lengthy pay review body process is not able to deliver what is needed right now. That’s a deal that resolves the current pay and staffing dispute and puts in place a settlement needed to get the NHS back on track.

In the current economic climate, it would be far better if NHS pay negotiations could be convened involving unions, employers and ministers, say the unions.

This should ensure a speedier outcome, and one that could deliver the kind of settlement necessary to turn the NHS staffing crisis around.

The deadline for submitting evidence for the 2022/23 pay year was the end of last January. But it was almost six months later when ministers made public their acceptance of the review body’s £1,400 flat-rate rise. By then inflation had gone through the roof, say unions.

The unions have now decided against a formal collective submission to the pay review body this year, preferring the more direct approach of talks with ministers.

Evidence for the 2023/24 pay round is meant to be submitted today (11 January). Instead, the NHS unions have collated the case for investment in NHS pay into a publicly available document. This outlines the necessity of investment in pay and staffing to the health service, its staff, patients and the wider economy.

Chair of the NHS group of unions and UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The pay review body process doesn’t fit the current context.

“The NHS staffing crisis is so acute only prompt action on pay – both for this and the next financial year – can start to turn things around.

“The public knows ambulance response times are worsening and hospital waiting lists growing because the NHS no longer has the necessary staff to meet demand, nor provide safe patient care.

“Ministers must seize the initiative, get everyone around the table and negotiate a way to the best deal for staff, patients and services.”

Secretary of the NHS group of unions and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy assistant director of employment relations Elaine Sparkes said: “Solving the pay dispute, getting vacancy rates down and providing better patient care must be the government’s number one priority.

“But even if the review body process were to be hurried along as the health secretary says he’s keen to do, it would still take too long.

“Speed is of the essence, as is ensuring wages are high enough for the NHS to retain experienced staff and attract new recruits. Only direct talks can achieve that.”

Notes to editors:

– The 14 NHS unions are: British Association of Occupational Therapists, British Dietetic Association, British Orthoptic Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Podiatry, Federation of Clinical Scientists, GMB, Managers in Partnership, Prison Officers Association, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite.
– The executive of the NHS group of unions consists of: Sara Gorton, chair and head of health, UNISON; Elaine Sparkes, secretary and assistant director of employment relations, CSP; Alice Sorby, treasurer and director of employment relations, Royal College of Midwives; Jo Galbraith-Marten, director of legal services & employment relations, Royal College of Nursing; Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe, national officer for health, Unite; Rachel Harrison, national secretary, GMB.
– The document setting out the case for investment in NHS pay is available here.

Media contacts:
UNISON M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
CSP M: 07917 091200 E: press.office@csp.org.uk
RCM T: 0207 312 3456 E: media@rcm.org.uk
RCN T: 0207 647 3633 E: mediateamhq@rcn.org.uk
Unite T: 07976 832861 E: pauline.doyle@unitetheunion.org
GMB M: 07813 542050 E: press.office@gmb.org.uk

The article Ongoing disputes make it impossible to submit evidence to NHS pay review body, say health unions  first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ongoing disputes make it impossible to submit evidence to NHS pay review body, say health unions 

Health unions won’t be submitting joint evidence to the NHS pay review body for the next wage round while the current industrial disputes remain unresolved, it has been announced today (Wednesday). 

Instead, the 14 unions – representing more than one million ambulance staff, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and other NHS workers in England – have called for direct pay talks with ministers. 

Unions believe the lengthy pay review body process is not able to deliver what is needed right now. That’s a deal that resolves the current pay and staffing dispute and puts in place a settlement needed to get the NHS back on track.  

In the current economic climate, it would be far better if NHS pay negotiations could be convened involving unions, employers and ministers, say the unions.

This should ensure a speedier outcome, and one that could deliver the kind of settlement necessary to turn the NHS staffing crisis around. 

The deadline for submitting evidence for the 2022/23 pay year was the end of last January. But it was almost six months later when ministers made public their acceptance of the review body’s £1,400 flat-rate rise. By then inflation had gone through the roof, say unions.  

The unions have now decided against a formal collective submission to the pay review body this year, preferring the more direct approach of talks with ministers.

Evidence for the 2023/24 pay round is meant to be submitted today (11 January). Instead, the NHS unions have collated the case for investment in NHS pay into a publicly available document. This outlines the necessity of investment in pay and staffing to the health service, its staff, patients and the wider economy.

Chair of the NHS group of unions and UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The pay review body process doesn’t fit the current context. 

“The NHS staffing crisis is so acute only prompt action on pay – both for this and the next financial year – can start to turn things around. 

“The public knows ambulance response times are worsening and hospital waiting lists growing because the NHS no longer has the necessary staff to meet demand, nor provide safe patient care.  

“Ministers must seize the initiative, get everyone around the table and negotiate a way to the best deal for staff, patients and services.” 

Secretary of the NHS group of unions and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy assistant director of employment relations Elaine Sparkes said: “Solving the pay dispute, getting vacancy rates down and providing better patient care must be the government’s number one priority. 

“But even if the review body process were to be hurried along as the health secretary says he’s keen to do, it would still take too long.  

“Speed is of the essence, as is ensuring wages are high enough for the NHS to retain experienced staff and attract new recruits. Only direct talks can achieve that.” 

Notes to editors:

– The 14 NHS unions are: British Association of Occupational Therapists, British Dietetic Association, British Orthoptic Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Podiatry, Federation of Clinical Scientists, GMB, Managers in Partnership, Prison Officers Association, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite. – The executive of the NHS group of unions consists of: Sara Gorton, chair and head of health, UNISON; Elaine Sparkes, secretary and assistant director of employment relations, CSP; Alice Sorby, treasurer and director of employment relations, Royal College of Midwives; Jo Galbraith-Marten, director of legal services & employment relations, Royal College of Nursing; Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe, national officer for health, Unite; Rachel Harrison, national secretary, GMB. – The document setting out the case for investment in NHS pay is available here.

Media contacts:UNISON M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk CSP M: 07917 091200 E: press.office@csp.org.uk RCM T: 0207 312 3456 E: media@rcm.org.ukRCN T: 0207 647 3633 E: mediateamhq@rcn.org.uk Unite T: 07976 832861 E: pauline.doyle@unitetheunion.orgGMB M: 07813 542050 E: press.office@gmb.org.uk

The article Ongoing disputes make it impossible to submit evidence to NHS pay review body, say health unions  first appeared on the UNISON National site.

A commitment to boost wages would mean unions may call off the strikes, says UNISON

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s comments today (Sunday) ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between health unions, NHS employers and the secretary of state, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“Health workers will be hoping the Prime Minister’s comments mean the talks can go beyond hearing solely about the pay review body evidence for the year from April.

“The earliest that process could finish is months away in May. The health secretary needs to set out what the government can do right now to prevent the dispute from continuing.

“Making a firm commitment to boost wages for what’s left of the current year would mean unions may call off the strikes.

“There could then be negotiations to secure the kind of pay deal the NHS needs to get  back on track and provide safe patient care. This is all anyone wants.”

Notes to editors
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article A commitment to boost wages would mean unions may call off the strikes, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Proper pay talks are the solution to disputes, not penalties for staff

Responding to the government announcement today (Thursday) about proposed legislation that could penalise public sector workers for taking strike action, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said:

“Ministers should focus their time and energy on rebuilding trust and relationships with workers, not silencing and suppressing them.

“Minimum staffing levels in the NHS would be welcome by the public and health staff every single day of the week. That could avoid people being left lying in agony on A&E floors or dying in the backs of ambulances.

“The NHS is on its knees because of record vacancies. The idea of limiting legal staffing levels to strike days and threatening to sack or fine health workers at such a time shows proper patient care isn’t ministers’ priority.

“The government is picking ill-advised fights with NHS employees and unions to mask years of dismal failure to tackle pay and staffing.

“There’s a much simpler way for Rishi Sunak to put a swift end to strikes in the NHS and other sectors. That’s to allow his ministers to begin direct pay negotiations immediately to boost wages, retain experienced staff and improve patient care.

“The Prime Minister’s spoken of dialogue with unions. But talks must be about pay itself, not how the pay review body process works.

“UNISON will be examining these proposals and considering how to respond, including any appropriate legal challenge.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Proper pay talks are the solution to disputes, not penalties for staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government should focus on solving NHS crisis with proper pay not penalties for staff

Responding to reports that the government is to announce legislation to penalise public sector workers if they strike, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“The public and health staff would welcome minimum staffing levels in the NHS every day of the week. That way, people wouldn’t be lying in agony on A&E floors or dying in the backs of ambulances.

“But limiting legal staffing levels to strike days and threatening to sack or fine health workers when there are record vacancies in the NHS show proper patient care isn’t what ministers want.

“The government is picking ill-advised fights with NHS employees and their unions to mask years of dismal failure to tackle pay and staffing.

“There’s a much simpler way for Rishi Sunak to put a swift end to strikes in the NHS. That’s to allow his ministers to begin pay talks immediately to boost wages, retain experienced staff and improve patient care.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Government should focus on solving NHS crisis with proper pay not penalties for staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Waiting times won’t fall unless the government deals with NHS pay, says UNISON

Responding to Rishi Sunak’s speech today (Wednesday) in which he pledged to reduce NHS waiting lists, UNISON deputy head of health Helga Pile said:

“Society needs a well-funded, well-staffed NHS so care and treatment is available the moment people need it.

“If the Prime Minister is serious about change and doing things differently, he should apply this to his government’s approach to the healthcare crisis. That means giving his ministers the green light to start talking to unions about improving pay.

“The government must raise wages sufficiently across the health service right away. Otherwise experienced staff will carry on quitting in frightening numbers, waiting lists won’t ever be cut, delays will worsen and the NHS will be unable to provide safe patient care.”

Notes to editors: 
– Staff at five ambulance services in England – London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West – are to strike on 11 and 23 January over NHS pay. UNISON staged a 12-hour strike at the same five services a fortnight ago (on 21 December 2022).
– Health workers belonging to UNISON in Northern Ireland took a day of strike action over pay on Monday 12 December, with more dates to be announced.
– In July 2022, the government in Westminster announced most NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts (NHS terms and conditions) in England would get a pay rise of £1,400, in line with the NHS pay review body’s recommendation. This amounted to a 4.75% increase to the NHS pay bill. Health workers had been due a wage rise on 1 April. Health workers in Wales got the same award. NHS staff in Northern Ireland have so far had no pay rise at all. In Scotland, UNISON members voted by a small majority to accept an improved offer from the Holyrood government. 
– UNISON and most other health unions had called for an above-inflation pay rise in their submission to this year’s NHS pay review body.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts: 
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Waiting times won’t fall unless the government deals with NHS pay, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

General secretary thanks strikers

“I want to thank you so much for taking that tough decision.” That was at the heart of a video message from UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea today, to “all of our members and activists” who took part in Wednesday’s strike action in the NHS.

Noting that the union had seen “huge public support”, Ms McAnea said that this had been “so good to see”.

And she said that it was important that members should remember that in the new year, during further industrial action.

“I hope they come to their senses and talk to us,” she said of the government. But if they don’t, UNISON is a strong union “and we are all together in this”.

And the general secretary concluded by wishing members well and hoping that they would all be able to have time off this Christmas to spend with their families.

Watch the video

Our rolling report from Wednesday’s action

Christina McAnea: A message to ambulance strikers on a difficult day

London calling – a look back at the strike in the capital

In my Liverpool home – on the picket lines in Merseyside

The article General secretary thanks strikers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: A message to ambulance strikers on a difficult day

Today’s strikes across the NHS are not taken lightly, and not celebrated, but the government must take serious heed.

UNISON members at two Liverpool hospitals walked out at 7.30am and ambulance road crews across five trusts will start their strike action at 12 noon, as part of our dispute over pay and staffing.

Much planning has gone into contingency arrangements that have been agreed through negotiations with local employers and NHS staff. The same staff who have put so much hard work into patient care over many, many years.

Brave NHS staff who cared for the country in the pandemic are now taking this difficult industrial action to draw attention to the deep crisis in the NHS.

I, and all those involved in the action, expect it to be a difficult day. We are prepared for the government to play the blame game, rather than constructively negotiate with us. But we are not prepared to give up on our aims of improving pay, staffing, and ultimately, patient care.

I’ll be visiting picket lines across London today, to support our members, and my message to all the strikers today is this:

The current state of the NHS, and the resulting industrial action, is not your fault. Any blame from the government today, is a deflection away from taking responsibility for their own actions over the last 12 years.

Not only have they failed to provide the public with a safe, reliable, and first-class health service, they have managed its decline. Not only have they dug a very big hole by refusing to talk about pay, but they’ve also proven they’re incapable of any kind of decent and constructive industrial relations.

But right now, please remember that our action is lawful and right. Stay strong today, and for the rest of this dispute. We have no choice but to carry on, because the future of the NHS depends on all of us fighting for it.

I’ve been receiving messages of support from individuals, and organisations, who can see the damage the government is doing to the NHS and they’re behind us in taking this action today. I genuinely believe most of the public are behind us too.

The article Blog: A message to ambulance strikers on a difficult day first appeared on the UNISON National site.