The government has imposed a 3% pay rise for all NHS staff in England. In response UNISON ran a summer consultation on the pay award from the end of July to the 10th September. 80% of members who voted in it said they wanted the union to oppose the pay outcome and were willing to take industrial action.
The Health Service Group Executive (HSGE) met on the 16th September to receive the result and decide next steps. Based on the consultation result, UNISON’s position is that we OPPOSE the 3% pay award for England. This has always been branch’s position.
Whilst the consultation had a clear 80% in favour of challenging the decision and take industrial action a large proportion of members did not vote – which means we do not know what they think and what they are willing to do.
So we are now running an indicative industrial action ballot to ask whether members are willing to take action. If a minimum of 45% of all members take part – and the majority say they want to take action – that will give us confidence that we can move on to a formal ballot.
Branch Secretary Nick McMaster says “We urge all members take part in this vote, regardless of your views. It is too important to let others decide on your behalf.
“With the RCN also consulting members and the GMB balloting theirs, this is a rare opportunity for NHS workers to make a clear statement to the government
“But all voices need to be heard for UNISON to have a clear stance and a clear mandate for moving forwards. After all, the bedrock of our great union is member democracy.”
If you have not yet voted, scan this QR code and you will be taken to our NHS pay website where you can find out more information about the vote. Furthermore you can follow another link to the actual voting webpage where all you need is your UNISON membership number or your National Insurance (NI) number.
Through the QR code or through other UNISON communications you can gain a detailed understanding on what the 3% pay rise means and how ineffective it is for NHS workers.
Therefore Branch does not need to repeat the facts, but our position is clear.
“This is a pitiful award. The government has had so many opportunities to demonstrate they value the NHS, whether it is reversing privatisation, banning fire and rehire practices or giving staff a proper, decent pay rise, and they’ve simply not taken them. Clapping and medals does not put food on the table nor cover council tax and National Insurance increases. Our members deserve financial recognition that makes working longer hours or taking second jobs a choice rather than a desperate necessity.
“The government continues to fail to value NHS staff. They remain sowing the seeds of discontent and putting recruitment and retention into an already short staffed service further at risk.
“Therefore on behalf of the branch committee we urge all our members to be counted, vote in this consultative ballot and to oppose the pay award.”
Nick McMaster, Branch Secretary