Solo pay talks could have serious consequences for the NHS

The government’s failure to hold pay talks with every organisation representing striking NHS workers in England is unacceptable, ill-considered, and has potentially perilous consequences, health unions warn today (Monday).  The chair and secretary of the union side of the NHS staff council have written to Steve Barclay on behalf of health unions, raising concerns about the government’s handling of the pay dispute.  The group of 13 unions includes four – UNISON, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, GMB and Unite – that are currently involved in industrial action over NHS pay, staffing and patient care.  In the letter, the unions urge caution over the government’s decision to hold unilateral talks with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and say the approach risks prolonging the strikes.   Worse still, the unions say, the solo talks move threatens the future of the Agenda for Change pay system covering all NHS staff, aside from doctors and dentists.  The letter states that the government should have done things properly and held pay negotiations through the NHS staff council, as has happened previously. This is made up of unions representing all health service workers, NHS employers, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.  The unions remind the health secretary that those with live strike mandates have made clear that action could be paused in return for talks with an upfront agreement to improve pay for 2022-23. But only the RCN has...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release nhs pay Sara Gorton Source Type: news