Pay award: voting opens for nursing staff to give their verdict
Posted 08 August 2024 - 14:00
RCN opens online consultation from today until 16 September to give members their chance to say if pay award of 5.5% is ‘enough of a start on our journey’
Nursing staff are being asked to vote on whether they accept or reject the NHS pay award from today, 8 August.
The RCN has launched a consultation on the 2024-25 pay award for its members on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts and AfC terms and conditions in England, including commissioned services for the NHS.
Eligible members have until noon on 16 September to cast their vote.
It comes after chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on 29 July that she would accept the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body (RB), awarding a 5.5% consolidated pay increase to all 1.3 million staff across all bands, effective from 1 April 2024.
Result of the consultation will help RCN decide what steps to take next in relation to pay
The government has also accepted recommendations to introduce intermediate pay points for bands 8 and above, and to issue a funded mandate for the NHS Staff Council to begin resolving outstanding concerns within the AfC pay structure.
The RCN says the result of the consultation will help determine what next steps it takes in relation to pay.
RCN general secretary Nicola Ranger said: ‘When it comes to pay in the NHS, all professional groups deserve a clear route to fair pay restoration – starting to make up for a very serious loss of earnings in the last 15 years.'
RCN asks for fair treatment from government
Referring to a pay award to junior doctors of about 22% over two years, Professor Ranger said: ‘We do not begrudge doctors their pay rise. We work together closely, in the interests of our patients. What we ask for is the same fair treatment from government.
‘Our members will vote on whether they see this award as enough of a start on our journey. When the full details are released, it must show that the funding is being made available to the NHS and all employers who deliver NHS services.’
Members are being urged to log in to My RCN to check their details and take part in the vote.
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