Axe NHS Pay Review Body: nursing unions push for direct pay deal
Posted 26 November 2024 - 15:00
RCN, Unison and Unite’s joint letter to health secretary urges him to abandon ‘outdated’ pay review process and negotiate directly with unions for 2025-2026 pay
Nursing unions are calling for direct pay talks with the government, as they refuse to submit evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (RB) process for next year and say ‘it should be axed’.
The RCN, Unison and Unite have written to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting urging him to abandon the RB process in favour of ‘round-the-table’ negotiations on NHS pay for 2025-2026.
‘Out-of-date’ pay review process ‘risks repeating mistakes of the past’ – unions’ joint letter
The unions say that 1 million NHS staff in England, including nurses, paramedics, healthcare assistants, porters and health visitors will not receive their pay rise on time in April if the government waits for the RB to report. The RB is responsible for making recommendations on pay for all NHS staff paid under Agenda for Change.
Tuesday 26 November is the deadline for evidence to the RB, but the three unions confirmed they are not submitting anything this year, claiming the body is from ‘a bygone age’.
The joint letter to Mr Streeting said: ‘Sticking with the out-of-date pay review body process risks repeating the mistakes of the past. That doesn’t fit with your wider vision for a 21st century NHS that has a stable and motivated workforce at its core.
‘The pay review body process is outdated and belongs to a bygone age. It takes forever, is bureaucratic and is inefficient too.
‘Scrapping this would save tens of thousands of pounds and spare the NHS, the government and other health organisations the many hours it currently takes to compile, submit and present evidence.’
Get round the table for ‘meaningful discussions’ on nursing’s future, RCN urges
Mr Streeting triggered the RB process last month and promised that an announcement of NHS pay would be made by April 2025 – although staff are likely to have to wait longer to see any pay rise in their pay packets.
RCN general secretary Nicola Ranger said: ‘Our members need action and clarity on their future now so we can rebuild the nursing profession, the NHS and modernise the way care is delivered.
‘That is why we need to get round the table for meaningful discussions. We have taken this approach in the interests of nurses, the patients and communities we serve, and the NHS itself.’
Scottish Government negotiates annual pay rises directly with health unions
Since 2018, the Scottish Government has not participated in the pay review body process and instead negotiates NHS annual pay rises directly with health unions.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We know how important it is to give certainty on 2025-2026 pay settlements as early as possible, which is why the pay setting process was started in September, the earliest it has been for years.
‘We encourage all stakeholders in the pay setting process to provide evidence this year, as this enables the pay review bodies to make the best possible recommendations.’
In other news