UNISON To Consult On Pay Deal Worth 8% Over Three Years, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 08 Apr 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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UNISON, the largest public sector union, will consult its members working in the National Health Service over a proposed pay deal worth 8% over the next three years. It includes a re-opener clause that will allow the pay increases in years two and three to be reviewed if inflation is higher than expected.

The proposed deal gives 2.75% in the first year.

In year 2 it gives 2.54%. It also establishes for all NHS staff a new minimum wage of £6.77 an hour in that year, that is 18% higher than the statutory rate. Those on the lowest point will receive an increase of 5.7%.

In the third year the proposed deal gives 2.5%. It includes a flat rate increase of £420 (worth 3.17% at the lowest point) for the bottom three grades.

Nurses, midwives and paramedics on the main grade 5 and the bottom of grade 6 will receive extra money on top of the basic increase from the second year, to recognise that more than a quarter have reached their pay ceiling.

UNISON Head of Health, Karen Jennings, said:

"The proposed deal adheres to the pay review body recommendations and is the highest in the public sector. It would set a new minimum wage of £6.77 an hour from next year and gives more money to nurses, midwives and paramedics stuck at the top of their grades.

"It does offer pay stability over the next three years. We will be asking our executive to consider recommending this deal to members as a well-balanced package in the forthcoming consultation. And we will expect private sector contractors in the NHS to implement the deal for their low-paid workers following agreement."

There is a formal commitment to future talks on reducing the working week and a reducing the number of pay points in grades, that will allow people to progress their salaries more fairly.

The proposals include a new facilities agreement for local trade union representatives to provide greater resources and time to participate in local partnership working arrangements.

http://www.unison.org.uk