By Richard Johnstone | 28 January 2015
Eight NHS unions have called off industrial action planned for tomorrow after a new pay offer was made by the Department of Health.
As part of a long-running dispute over pay, unions including the Royal College of Midwives, the Society of Radiographers and Unison were due to take part in a 12-hour stoppage on January 29, followed by a full day strike on February 24.
Two four-hour stoppages took place in October and November in protest at Hunt’s decision to not award all NHS employees the 1% pay increase recommended by the independent pay review body.
Instead, the government decided that only those not receiving increases through progression were given the rise in 2014/15.
However, the government is now believed to have offered a 1% pay rise for staff earning less than £56,000 in 2015/16, rather than repeating this year's deal.
This will be paid for by a freeze in the pay of those earning more than £56,000, who will not benefit from either the 1% rise or incremental progression.
Christina McAnea, Unison’s head of health and the unions’ lead negotiator, said that the action staged by health workers last year had moved the government to negotiate. Talks have been ongoing since last week after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned the strike could put lives at risk at a time of record demand across the health service
‘This isn't a great offer but it addresses some of the key concerns unions have about low pay in the NHS. In the interest of patients' safety unions will now consult members,’ McAnea added.
‘It will be up to members to decide whether to accept or reject the proposals. If they choose to reject them we will move to further industrial action.’
NHS Employers said it was ‘delighted’ that the strike action had been called off, calling it the ‘right decision’.
Chief executive Danny Mortimer said: ‘If the unions proceed to fully accept the proposed pay agreement it will demonstrate a commitment and signal the start of a period of negotiations to deliver long-term pay reform in the NHS.
‘This needs to ensure that the pay system helps the NHS to provide better, safer and more responsive services to patients and lead to a more efficient use of NHS resources.’
The full list of unions who have agreed to suspend strike action is:
Unison
Unite
GMB
Society of Radiographers
Royal College of Midwives
British Association of Occupational Therapists
POA
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
