What is the NHS pay rise?
NHS staff in England are to be awarded a 5.5% pay increase. It is what the NHS Pay Review Body has recommended and it’s what the government has decided to implement. You can read UNISON’s initial press release responding to the announcement here.
This is a pay award set by the government. It is not a pay ‘deal’ which has been negotiated by the government and NHS unions. Find out more below about how NHS pay is set and why UNISON wants it to be done differently in future.
Will I get the NHS pay rise?
The pay award applies to staff in England working on Agenda for Change terms and conditions (see more on Agenda for Change below). In broad terms, this agreement applies to directly-employed staff in England who are not doctors. That’s staff from across the NHS team, both clinical and operational, including cleaners, domestics, administrative staff, healthcare support workers, nurses, ODPs, porters, security and many, many others.
How is NHS pay decided?
Over 1.5 million NHS staff have their pay, terms and conditions set by a national scheme known as Agenda for Change (AfC). This was first negotiated by UNISON, the other health unions and NHS employers back in 2004. Many more are affected by the scheme as they work for other employers that follow AfC arrangements in the public and private sectors.
UNISON has worked to defend and improve this system in order to maintain fair pay, standard terms and conditions across the UK, and better career progression options for all NHS staff.
Each year the pay system is subject to an independent review to make recommendations on pay. This is carried out by the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) based on evidence submitted by NHS unions, employers’ bodies and the government. UNISON’s evidence draws on what members tell us about how they feel about pay, cost-of-living pressures, and recruitment and retention problems where they work.
The PRB then makes recommendations to the UK governments as to what pay increases NHS staff should get at their 1 April pay date. These recommendations are not binding.
Does UNISON want to negotiate directly on NHS pay going forward?
Yes. NHS staff have become disillusioned with the PRB system because they do not believe it is independent. They see the process as long-winded, too often at the mercy of government and unfit for purpose.
From now on, UNISON wants to negotiate directly with the government on NHS pay, along with our sister unions in the NHS. But we don’t only want to talk about a headline number.
There are a growing number of structural issues in the pay scales affecting staff morale and progression that need fixing through negotiation. Collective bargaining like this creates great opportunities for problem solving, expert input, and genuine involvement and engagement with NHS staff on the day-to-day problems they face.
What will it take to put NHS pay right?
A proper pay rise. The right banding. A shorter working week. That’s what UNISON members want and it’s what NHS staff deserve.
The NHS is in a staffing emergency with over 110,000 vacancies, spiralling workloads and a record patient backlog.
That’s why together we’re calling on the government to put NHS pay right to keep dedicated staff in their jobs and ensure more patients can be treated more quickly.
In our autumn survey, more than 40,000 NHS staff told UNISONthat you want:
A proper pay rise
A majority of UNISON members – in every role, at every pay band – said that increasing core pay is the number one priority.
All staff working in the NHS need a proper pay rise to keep up with rising living costs and to provide a decent reward for the challenging work you do. Over a third of members report that they cannot get through the working day without worrying about finances and this cannot go on.
We need to fix problems up and down the pay scale to kick poverty pay out of the NHS for good; to maintain fairness between staff; and to make sure that when you progress or get promoted, you notice a real difference in your pay packet.
The right banding
Nurses, admin staff, catering staff and many others tell us that they are working above their band. Thousands of UNISON healthcare support workers have come together to fight for and win rebanding and back pay because the current creaking system leaves staff undervalued and underpaid.
A shorter working week
UNISON’s ambition is for a reduced working week in the NHS with no loss of pay. Better work-life balance would improve wellbeing, reduce burnout and keep staff in their jobs, reducing reliance on overtime and agency staff. While there may not be a quick route to a shorter working week, many staff have already identified areas of their work that could run more smoothly. Let’s start the conversation now!
You can read the evidence UNISON sent to the former Secretary of State in February here.
