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NHS pay deal: Unite and Unison insist the figures they presented to members are correct

Unions reiterate position NHS pay as RCN apologises for confusion over pay rise information
Sara Gorton

Unions reiterate position on NHS nurses' salaries as RCN apologises for confusion over pay rise information


Unison pay negotiator Sara Gorton. Picture: Barney Newman

Two unions that negotiated the NHS pay deal alongside the RCN insist they were always clear about what it meant, after the college moved to apologise to members over misleading information.

Unite and Unison were commenting because RCN general secretary Janet Davies emailed the membership in England last night when it emerged some staff would not receive the full 3% rise this summer that the college had indicated they would.

The RCN assured nurses today they would get the full amount promised over the three years the deal has to run.

Pay rise of 3% ‘only for those at the top of their band’

In a joint statement, Unison and Unite said they had always made it clear only staff at the top of their bands would receive a 3% rise in the first year.

Unison head of health Sara Gorton said: ‘Unison's material on the pay offer, published jointly by the health unions, clearly differentiated between what would happen for staff at the top of bands, and those below.’

It was always clear staff at the bottom or in the middle of their pay band would receive pay rises dependent on individual circumstances, Ms Gorton added.

She maintained changes to the pay bands represented a good deal for all.

'I can only apologise for this unnecessary confusion and assure you I am determined to resolve it'

Janet Davies, RCN general secretary

The RCN is investigating why the confusion arose. It came to light when NHS staff received their July payslips. Ms Davies said she was unaware of the under-3% rises until 24 hours before sending out her email of apology.

She told members: 'I can only apologise for this unnecessary confusion and assure you I am determined to resolve it.'

This month's pay increase is the first of three in the staggered deal, with a 1.7% rise due in 2019 and a final 1.7% increase in 2020. This would make the whole agreement worth a minimum of 6.5% over the three years.

‘Nurses will receive the full amount promised over three years’

An RCN spokesperson said today: 'Despite some delays to payments members will receive the full amount promised over the three years the deal has to run. We are sorry for any confusion about what members were due to receive this month.'

RCN activists pushing for an emergency general meeting of the college told Nursing Standard they had secured 930 of the 1,000 signatures required.

The petition states: 'We the undersigned have no confidence in the current leadership of the Royal College of Nursing and call for them to stand down.’



Further information

Josie Irwin RCN blog: NHS pay – What will you receive this month?


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