Some NHS staff have voted to accept the government's pay offer following months of strikes in England.
The ambulance crews, nurses and other NHS staff members who are in Unison have voted in favour of the government's pay deal. The deal includes a permanent 5 per cent pay rise for 2023-24 worth at least £1,065, plus an extra one-off lump sum to top up the past year's salary.
The Royal College Nursing is due to announce how its members in England voted on the deal later today. Meanwhile, thousands of doctors across the country are coming to the end of their four-day strike, ending at 7am tomorrow morning (April 15).
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In the Unison consultation of 288,000 NHS workers across England, almost three-quarters (74 per cent) voted to accept the offer, and 26 per cent to reject. Turnout was 53 per cent, with 152,329 votes cast. Of these 112,458 voted yes, and 39,871 no.
Sara Gorton from Unison said: "Clearly health workers would have wanted more, but this was the best that could be achieved through negotiation.
"Over the past few weeks, health workers have weighed up what's on offer. They've opted for the certainty of getting the extra cash in their pockets soon.
“It’s a pity it took several months of strike action before the government would commit to talks. Unions told ministers last summer the £1,400 pay rise wasn’t enough to stop staff leaving the NHS, nor to prevent strikes, but they didn’t want to listen.
“Instead, health workers were forced to strike, losing money they could ill afford. The NHS and its patients suffered months of unnecessary disruption.
"Other unions are still consulting, so the full picture won't emerge until the end of the month. Unison will be urging the government to ensure NHS workers get the wage rises they've voted for at the earliest opportunity.
“This vote might end Unison’s dispute, but it doesn’t solve the wider staffing emergency affecting every part of the NHS. Now, the Government must work with unions to bring about a sustained programme of investment in the workforce.
“Lessons must also be learned. The mistakes of the past few months cannot be repeated. It’s time for a whole new approach to setting pay across the NHS.”
A Government spokesperson said: “The decision by members of Unison, the largest NHS union, to accept the pay offer recommended by their leadership demonstrates that it is a fair and reasonable proposal that can bring this dispute to an end.
“Under the offer, an Agenda for Change employee at the Band 6 entry point – such as a physiotherapist, paramedic or a midwife – will receive over £5,100 across last year and this year, with over £2,000 in bonus payments arriving as a lump sum in pay cheques by summer. Hundreds of thousands of Agenda for Change staff continue to vote in ballots for other unions over the next two weeks and we hope this generous offer secures their support.”
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