Union anger as next NHS pay review scrapped

5 Aug 14
Trade unions have hit out at the decision by Danny Alexander to cancel the independent review of NHS pay for 2015/16, warning this would increase the likelihood of industrial action.

By Richard Johnstone | 5 August 2014

Trade unions have hit out at the decision by Danny Alexander to cancel the independent review of NHS pay for 2015/16, warning this would increase the likelihood of industrial action.

The chief secretary to the Treasury wrote to the NHS Pay Review Body today to inform its members that ministers would not need a recommendation for next year because unions representing NHS staff were not prepared to negotiate to reform the Agenda for Change system.

The announcement comes after the government rejected the body’s recommendation for 2014/15 that all staff should get a 1% increase, in addition to any incremental increase for time served.

In his letter, Alexander said the decision not to give the 1% uplift to those also receiving an increase through progression was taken after careful consideration. It has been estimated by unions that around 600,000 staff did not receive the cost-of-living rise in April as a result.

‘I hope you will appreciate that this was a difficult decision and that the government continues to greatly value the contribution of the pay review bodies in delivering robust, evidence-based pay outcomes for public sector workers,’ the chief secretary wrote.

However, Alexander said that continuing concerns over affordability of the existing terms meant the government intended to make the same decision in the 2015 pay round.

‘Unfortunately, the NHS trade unions are not prepared to negotiate an affordable alternative, although we are still open to new proposals.

‘Therefore it is our intention to take the same approach in 2015/16. As a result, the NHSPRB will not be asked to make recommendations on a pay award for Agenda for Change staff in the 2015 pay round.’

Responding to the announcement, Unison’s head of health Christina McAnea said the decision was ‘a slap in the face to NHS staff’.

‘The pay review body has kept the industrial peace for many years and by ignoring it this year and casting it aside for next, the government is being deliberately provocative,’ she said.

‘This letter will only add to our members’ determination to vote 'yes' for industrial action.’ Unison is set to start balloting members over action later this month.
Unite, which will also ballot members later this month, said Alexander’s decision sounded the death knell for independent reviews on NHS pay.

National officer for health Barrie Brown said that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had ridden roughshod over the pay review board’s recommendation and now the political interference was continuing.

‘It is clear from Danny Alexander’s statement that NHS staff pay is set to become a political football,’ Brown said.


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