Category: nhs pay

Ministers putting lives at risk by refusing to negotiate

Reacting to comments made this morning by health secretary Steve Barclay on the ambulance strike, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “People are already dying or getting sicker every day because the government’s let the NHS get into such a dire state.

“Ministers have sat back while ambulance response times worsened and waiting lists reached record highs. Ambulance services and the wider NHS no longer have the staff to provide safe patient care. And all this on the government’s watch.

“There’s a complete absence of a ministerial plan to tackle the worst staffing crisis in the history of the NHS. Steve Barclay’s stubborn refusal to boost pay is more damaging than he realises.

“The public wants ministers to treat NHS staff better and pay them more, as do many politicians on the government’s side. Trying to paint ambulance workers and their unions as the bad guys in this dispute won’t wash.

“People know it’s ministers who are recklessly putting lives at risk by refusing to negotiate. Unless the government commits to a proper wage rise this year, action will likely escalate in the new year.

“The health secretary must stop the insults and groundless accusations and take responsibility for solving this damaging dispute.”

Notes to editors:
– Details of UNISON’s picket lines are available here.
– 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
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers putting lives at risk by refusing to negotiate first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Rolling report: #PutNHSpayright

09:25am After health secretary Steve Barclay used an article in today’s Daily Telegraph to state that: “We now know that the NHS contingency plans will not cover all 999 calls. Ambulance unions have made a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients”, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea and assistant general secretary Jon Richards responded in shock at the claims.

Screengrab of tweet from Christina McAnea

Screen grabs of tweets by Christina McAnea and Jon Richards

Ms McAnea, speaking on Good Morning Britain, described the claims as “utterly untrue”.

09:05am There are strict laws on picketing during industrial action and the union could be heavily fined if these are broken.

But there are plenty of way in which non-striking members and any other supporters can show their solidarity with strikers today.

Check here to find out more

If you’re following events on Twitter, make sure to check @unisontheunion and @cmcanea. And if you yourself are tweeting, please use the hashtag #PutNHSpayright.

08:55am Good morning all. As UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea tweeted last night, today’s strikes are going ahead. “I had hoped the government would move on pay, to get this dispute resolved, but their position is still fixed. We have no option but to continue with our strike action and consider more action in January.”

So, at 7.30am this morning, “nurses, porters, HCAs, cleaners and other NHS staff at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital took brave action and started their 24hr strike over pay and staffing,” continued Ms McAnea.

We will be updating this rolling report throughout the day, so check back to find out what’s going on.

The article Rolling report: #PutNHSpayright first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Talk to unions, boost NHS pay and strikes won’t be necessary

Time might be running out before this week’s strike involving ambulance workers, but there’s a still chance of finding a resolution to the dispute and starting talks to improve NHS pay, says UNISON today (Monday).

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The government must stop using public safety fears as a smokescreen for its own inaction. There’d be no strikes at all if ministers would only talk to unions and improve NHS pay.

“It’s still not too late to get around the table and discuss a wage boost to benefit not just staff, but the NHS and its patients too.

“Although people will be anxious about what Wednesday means, emergency cover plans will be in place. These are drawn up by each ambulance employer, working with the unions. If the health secretary has any concerns, he should flag now so these can be dealt with locally.

“Better still, Steve Barclay should throw all his energy into preventing the strikes from going ahead this week and preventing any escalation of action in the new year.

“I’ve cleared my diary and would be happy to meet the secretary of state at any time to resolve the dispute no one wants.

“At some point, the government is going to have to get into talks to fix this. Ministers should do that now, avoid the strikes on Wednesday and what looks like inevitable escalation in the new year.”

Notes to editors:
-UNISON has concluded its discussions with ambulance employers on emergency cover to enable the services to provide the public with clear information ahead of Wednesday’s strike.
-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 Talk to unions, boost NHS pay and strikes won’t be necessary first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Only direct talks will end NHS dispute, says UNISON

Commenting on suggestions that the NHS pay review body may be reconvened in response to strikes by health workers over their wages, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Thursday):

“There’s no need to start another long-winded evidence round. A wage boost is needed now, not months down the line.

“The last two of the pay review body’s recommendations sat on ministerial desks for months.

“Health workers won’t have any confidence in a repeat of the process that’s failed to deliver for them, the NHS or patients so far. Ministers are hiding behind the pay review body to wriggle out of any responsibility for the mess they’ve created.

“The only solution to the current unrest is for proper and genuine pay talks between the government and unions. Only then can the worsening crisis in the NHS be tackled. And that must start with a wage boost sufficient to convince experienced staff to stay.”

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:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Only direct talks will end NHS dispute, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government can stop strikes and strengthen NHS if it makes an effort with pay

Responding to ministers’ comments about the government’s continuing refusal to talk to unions about health workers’ pay, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Sunday):

“Ministers should stop making excuses and hiding behind the pay review body. Its recommendation is heavily influenced by government wages policy. 

“The facts are simple. The wage rise given to health workers this year simply hasn’t been enough to stop staff leaving in droves. Without enough employees in the NHS, patients will go on waiting too long for ambulances and for treatment to start.

“Instead of putting plans in place for the strike days, ministers should be concentrating all their efforts on ending the disputes.

“Speaking to unions about improving wages can work wonders as the Scottish government has found. It’s time ministers in Westminster did the same. They should stop talking tough, put a proper pay plan on the table and get the unions in to discuss it.”

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:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Government can stop strikes and strengthen NHS if it makes an effort with pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government must resolve NHS pay dispute as waiting lists keep growing, says UNISON

Commenting on new figures published today (Thursday) that show NHS vacancies across England have reached a record high, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“These figures paint a bleak picture of the state of the NHS. There are too few staff to provide safe patient care, and as more leave for better paid work, so waiting times and delays worsen. 

“The government must get a grip, take the dispute seriously and start talking to unions about pay. Then there’ll be no need for strikes and everyone’s focus can be on working together to get the NHS back on track.”

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
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Government must resolve NHS pay dispute as waiting lists keep growing, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears plans for industrial action, plus new ballots

UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) met today and heard reports on the preparations for strike action, balloting and re-balloting across the union, as the third Conservative prime minister of the year shows little sign of improving the lives of working people.

Addressing the meeting, general secretary Christina McAnea said that the “last time we met was just after Liz Truss was elected – by the Tories, not the country”.

The autumn statement from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt “did nothing to reassure us,” she added, noting that whatever the claims to the contrary, “we’re not all in this together”.

Ms McAnea stressed that UNISON was working with the TUC to try and put as much pressure as possible on the government. She has written to Mr Hunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but as yet had no responses.

The general secretary thanked branches and staff for helping to build an average of 35% turnout in the NHS ballot, noting that UNISON has “never had that level before” and it gives a great base to build on.

She also cited the 183,000-signature petition that was handed in to Downing Street, calling on the government to end the pay crisis, observing too that the union had been gaining good press coverage, nationally and in local media.

As well as hearing about the NHS pay ballot and industrial action plans, the meeting heard of the preparations for strike action in the Environment Agency, and how the union organised to meet the legal thresholds for the ballot.

In higher education, UNISON is also re-balloting 49 higher education institutions and a few more for the first time.

With a packed agenda, the council also:

  • heard an update on organising, which revealed that the union has seen growth in five regions, driven by industrial mobilisation;
  • welcomed the news of growth, it also discussed the importance of retention;
  • heard about the landmark legal case of Polly Jones that the union supported;
  • examined a raft of proposals on standing orders;
  • passed a budget for next year.

The article NEC hears plans for industrial action, plus new ballots first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NHS workers in Northern Ireland prepare for strike action

UNISON members working in the NHS in Northern Ireland will be taking strike action on Monday 12 December in the ongoing battle for a pay rise.

Health workers in Northern Ireland have received no pay rise at all for 2022-23 after the Democratic Unionist Party withdrew from the Stormont executive earlier this year in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol, part of the Brexit deal.

The UNISON members will be joined by colleagues in the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa). Both unions began indefinite action short of a strike yesterday.

In England and Wales, NHS staff have been given a rise of at least £1,400.

Unions in Scotland are considering a government offer that averages 7.5%.

UNISON head of bargaining in Northern Ireland, Anne Speed, told BBC News’s Good Morning Ulster programme that members were seeking an “inflation-busting pay rise.

“Inflation is 11%, and a pay rise actually has to match that in order to protect workers,” she said.

“What’s being awarded is only half of inflation, and health workers are just frustrated, fed up, very disappointed and they’re choosing to speak out now.”

The unions were prepared to negotiate, added Ms Speed, but the responsibility falls on Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, given the political stalemate at Stormont.

Both unions also want staff shortages addressed and say that, in the absence of devolved government, civil servants could agree to pay workers the recommended rate that has been granted elsewhere.

The article NHS workers in Northern Ireland prepare for strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Start talking to avert health strikes later this month

Ambulance crews working for five services in England – London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West – are to go on strike over pay and staffing on Wednesday 21 December, says their union UNISON today (Tuesday).

The pre-Christmas date coincides with action being planned by two other unions – GMB and Unite – with members in ambulances services in England.

The UNISON strike involving paramedics, emergency care assistants, ambulance technicians and other 999 crew members will run from midday to midnight.

The ambulance workers are to be joined by nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, cleaners and other NHS workers at two Liverpool hospitals, who will also take action that day.

The strike at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Liverpool University Hospital starts at 07.30 on Wednesday 21 December and ends 24 hours later.

UNISON is also about to begin reballoting around 13,000 NHS staff working for ten trusts and ambulance services where turnout in the recent strike vote fell just short of the threshold required by law.

These ten NHS employers include all the remaining ambulance services in England – West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East Coast and South Central.

In addition, staff working at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, London’s Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the North West-based Bridgewater Community Trust are being asked again to vote for strike action. UNISON members at NHS Blood and Transplant are also being reballoted.

Commenting on the pre-Christmas strike, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The government will only have itself to blame if there are strikes in the NHS before Christmas.

“Ambulance staff and their health colleagues don’t want to inconvenience anyone. But ministers are refusing to do the one thing that could prevent disruption – that’s start genuine talks about pay.

“Wages are too low to stop health workers quitting the NHS. As more and more hand in their notice, there are fewer staff left to care for patients. The public knows that’s the reason behind lengthy waits at A&E, growing ambulance delays, postponed operations and cancelled clinics.

“Threatened NHS strikes in Scotland were called off because ministers there understand higher wages and improved staffing levels go hand in hand. Unfortunately, the penny’s yet to drop for the Westminster government.”

Senior managers in the five ambulance services and two NHS trusts are due to receive formal notification of the strike and will draw up emergency cover plans to put to the unions taking action.

Notes to editors:
– GMB members working for the following ambulance services – South West, South East Coast, North West, South Central, North East, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Wales – are also taking action on Wednesday 21 December. Unite is due to take out its members the same day at three English ambulance services in the North West, North East and West Midlands.
-Health workers belonging to UNISON and working in Northern Ireland have already voted to take action over pay and staffing. Yesterday (Monday), NHS staff began taking what is known as action short of a strike. This means working to their contracts, ending their shifts on time and refusing overtime. This continues until next Monday (12 December) when they’ll then be striking for the day. In Scotland, UNISON is recommending its NHS members vote to accept the latest offer from Holyrood, which will see a £2,205 increase for the lowest paid staff, and more for those on higher bands. That vote also closes next Monday. In Wales, UNISON members working for the Welsh Ambulance Service are also to be reballoted. The start date for this, and for the plans to reballot staff at ten NHS employers in England, are to be confirmed.
-In July 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 recommendation of the NHS pay review body. 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. The health minister in Northern Ireland said he wanted to implement this award but could not do so due to the political stalemate. This means NHS workers there have still had no pay rise at all.
-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.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Start talking to avert health strikes later this month first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Start pay talks to stop NHS strikes this winter, says UNISON

Sunday 4 December 2022
For immediate release

Start pay talks to stop NHS strikes this winter says UNISON

Commenting on comments made by Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi earlier today (Sunday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The government can easily prevent strikes across the NHS this winter. Steve Barclay simply has to start talking to unions about increasing NHS staff pay.

“But instead of taking responsibility for trying to solve the growing staffing crisis, ministers want to ratchet up the rhetoric and pick fights with ambulance workers and their NHS colleagues.

“This won’t go down well with the public. People have lots of sympathy for health workers and know that if wages improve so will vacancy rates and patient care.

“The Scottish government has averted strikes by talking to health unions and boosting pay. Ministers in Westminster should do the very same.”

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

The article Start pay talks to stop NHS strikes this winter, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.