Unison votes to back NHS pay deal

Members of the biggest health union have voted to accept the government's pay deal for the NHS.

Unison has joined the Royal College of Nursing and the Society of Radiographers in backing the offer of 8% over three years.

But several smaller unions, including the Royal College of Midwives and Unite, have rejected the offer saying it amounts to a pay cut.

Ministers said the 8% deal was fair and they were not willing to renegotiate.

Unison, which represents 500,000 workers, announced that 64.9% of those who had voted accepted the pay deal.

The ballot results have coincided with an announcement by the department of health that the NHS in England recorded an overall surplus last year of more than �1.6bn.

Those against the pay deal will now have some decisions to make.

'Pay cut'

The offer would give more than one million staff a pay increase of 2.75% from April, followed by further increases of 2.4% in 2009/10 and 2.25% in 2010/11.

Why should people devote their lives to others in the public sector and be treated so appallingly? Zena Dodgson Unison Surrey branch secretary

That would take a nurse's starting salary to just over �20,000 this year.

The offer is the highest in the public sector and is aimed at heading off the threat of NHS industrial action.

Opponents of the offer say it would amount to a pay cut because it is not in line with the rising costs of living.

In May, the GMB union, which represents 30,000 NHS staff in England and Wales, said more than 96% of its members had voted against the deal.

It was also rejected by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

'Fair deal'

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said it had recommended the proposed deal to members because it was fair, balanced and "the best deal in the public sector".

Almost 93% of nurses voted in favour.

"We worked hard to negotiate this deal for our members and it's clear from their response they want us to accept it," he said.

NURSES PAY Minimum salary for newly qualified nurse will be �20,225 A nurse with a salary of �21,494 in 07/08 will be on �24,553 by 2010/11 A healthcare assistant with a salary of �14,437 in 07/08 will be on �16,753 by 2010/2011

"Some of our lowest paid members, healthcare assistants and newly qualified nurses will be better off with a pay deal that is worth between 14% and 16%," he added.

Karen Jennings, Unison head of health, said they would not hesitate to renegotiate if inflation continues to rise.

"The ballot result shows what a tough decision it has been.

"The 2.75% on offer this year is the best in the public sector and the three-year deal offers stability.

"However, the rising costs of everyday items such as food, fuel and energy obviously make members wary about being locked into a three-year deal."

Health secretary Alan Johnson said the pay deal had been constructed with "skilled and professional union negotiators".

He added: "The NHS and patients will benefit from pay stability over the next three years that will allow everyone in the service to concentrate on improving patient care even further."

Gill Bellord, director of pay, pensions and employment relations at NHS Employers, said it was encouraging that the RCN and Unison had accepted the deal.

"We would like to see these arrangements implemented as soon as is practical and will be talking to the unions and Department of Health about issuing a pay circular to achieve this."

Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said "accepting the deal is accepting a pay cut".

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