Fourteen unions including Unison, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Unite and the GMB are calling Philip Hammond to improve pay for NHS staff as they have felt a 15% real-terms pay cut since 2010.
Today’s move represents a break from tradition as pay recommendations are normally made by independent pay review bodies, and unions issue their submissions to them.
But the unions said the ability of review bodies to make recommendations has been “severely” restricted by government since the introduction of the pay cap policy.
Unison head of health Sara Gorton said: “NHS staff and their families need a pay award that stops the rot and starts to restore some of the earnings that have been missed out on.”
Gorton said a decent pay rise will help hospital trusts attract new recruits and hold onto experienced staff while continuing the cap would damage services.
Following the announcement that police and prison officers are getting a pay increase above 1%, albeit below inflation, Gorton urged the government to boost wages for all public servants.
The unions have requested the 3.9% figure because it is above the 2.9% consumer price index for inflation and in line with the retail price index.
Royal College of Nursing, chief executive and general secretary, Janet Davies added: “If the government gives nurses the same deal as the police, it would still be a real-terms pay cut.
“Nursing staff must be given a pay rise that matches inflation, with an additional consolidated lump sum that begins to make up for the years of lost pay.”
Davies called on the government to allow the next pay review body to recommend a meaningful increase in pay packets and she stressed it must be fully funded with extra cash rather than drawn from existing budgets.
A government spokeswoman said: “Public sector workers, including NHS staff, do a fantastic job, and the government is committed to ensuring they can continue to deliver world-class public services.
“The government will continue to ensure that the overall package is fair while also being affordable to taxpayers as a whole.”
