Unite, one of the UK's principal health sector trade unions, has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay and staff cuts which is threatening the future of the service. 
 

NHS pay award

NHS workers are being offered 3.6 per cent following a recommendation from the pay review body (PRB). While the pay announcement for NHS staff is above the 2.8 per cent increase that was floated by the government at the end of last year, it is below the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent. It is also below what NHS staff in Scotland have accepted. 
 
The proposed increase also fails to reverse a lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases, which have significantly decreased pay in real terms and resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living.
 

Workers at breaking point 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “NHS workers, who were on the frontline during the pandemic, are still suffering from historic pay cuts in real terms over the last fifteen years and are contending with a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
 
“Treating public sector workers differently, while not dealing with the long term pay erosion suffered by NHS and other public sector workers, is storing up inevitable unrest and pushes morale to rock bottom.'
 
“Low pay is perpetuating the massive NHS recruitment and retention crisis which is putting an unbearable strain on both staff and services. This combined with large cuts in staffing mean many NHS workers are already at breaking point.
 
“If the government is ever going to resolve the NHS crisis it will need to stop kicking the can down the road. It needs to get Unite and the other NHS unions round the negotiating table, face to face and start making serious inroads on pay and other issues that are crippling our NHS.”
 

Low pay

Unite represents tens of thousands of health workers from nurses to biomedical scientists to facilities staff across hundreds of sites. Without their vital work the health service would cease to function. 
 
Pay in the NHS (in England and Northern Ireland) is currently so low that an emergency measure was put in place in April to stop staff in the lowest grades falling below the minimum wage.
 

PRB not fit for purpose

Unite national officer for health Richard Munn said: “The PRB is incapable of addressing the long-term challenges faced by the NHS. It needs to be abolished with the government directly negotiating with unions.
 
"Unite will be consulting our members on whether the pay proposal is acceptable. The government needs to understand and resolve the anger and frustration being experienced by NHS staff.”
 

Long-term challenges

Unite along with other major health unions has refused to take part in the current PRB process, as it is not fit for purpose in dealing with the challenges faced by NHS workers. These challenges which include low pay can only be resolved through direct negotiations with the government.
 
NHS staff in Northern Ireland and Wales are also subject to PRB recommendations.
 
ENDS
 
Notes to editors
 
For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.
 
Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org
 
Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org
 
Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.