UNISON Cymru/Wales has pledged to continue to fight for fair pay for thousands of health workers in Wales despite some trade unions voting in favour of the latest one-off deal from Welsh Government.
By a narrow vote trade unions in Wales have accepted a Welsh Government one-off enhancement, to the originally imposed 2021 3% pay increase for healthcare workers, of an unconsolidated 1 per cent for NHS grades 1 to 5 plus an additional day annual leave.
However members of UNISON, which is the largest healthcare trade union in Wales, had voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest Welsh Government unconsolidated pay offer which they see as tokenistic and unsatisfactory.
UNISON is now calling on the Welsh Government to get back around the table for talks in January 2022 to secure a pay deal for next year which truly reflects the incredible value of its members who have all put their lives on the line throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to do so.
The union’s pay claim was for all NHS staff in Wales from cleaners and caterers to healthcare assistants and nurses to receive an increase of £2,000.
A total of 92% of its members voted to reject the Welsh Government’s latest offer as it is a one-off and provides no on-going security.
The news also comes as health workers in Wales find themselves under growing pressures due to the increasing demands brought about by the COVID Omicron variant and the inevitable impact on stress and sickness levels this will bring as well as the increasing problem of staff retention.
All this makes it more important than ever for Welsh Government to appreciate the value of its health care staff by giving them the pay rise they deserve.
UNISON will now focus on campaigning for a winning a decent and fair settlement in 2022 which will begin to address the real and growing cost of living crisis currently gripping the country.
Stefan Senese, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board employee and vice chair of UNISON Cymru/Wales Health Committee, said: “Our members are facing real hardship and in-work poverty on a daily basis and the latest one-off pay offer from Welsh Government is not going to resolve this.
“Our members have been working on the front line throughout the pandemic and the only appreciation that they have had at present is through clapping.
“What we need now is for the Welsh Government to take this issue more seriously than one-off bonus payments and appreciate the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of this on our members.”
Paul Summers, UNISON chair of Wales health trade unions, said: “The joint trade unions narrow decision to accept this latest Welsh Government offer now concludes the issue for this year’s pay.
“The priority now for the Welsh Government must be to enter into real discussions with trade unions as soon as possible regarding next year’s pay so we don’t end up in this awful situation again.
“Our members can be assured UNISON will continue to fight for the best possible deal, that rewards their hard work.”
Notes to editors:
– Welsh Government Health minister Eluned Morgan accepted the latest pay review body recommendations and implemented them without consultation with trade unions.
– UNISON is now calling for real discussions with Welsh Government so this type of move away from partnership working is not replicated in the future.
– UNISON’s evidence to the NHS pay review body had called for a wage increase of at least £2,000 for each individual health worker.
– Between 8 November and 10 December, UNISON health members in Wales were asked for their views on Welsh government’s revised proposal below, 92% voted to reject
-
3 per cent
-
A one off non-consolidated additional payment of 1 per cent for those on bands 1-5, and the F1 doctors who fall into this pay band. This payment would not be pro rata.
-
Rate of pay for the lowest grade to be raised to £18,731
-
An additional day’s annual leave for all employed NHS staff.
-
To put resource behind a partnership group that looks at ‘staff welfare’ and bring together new initiatives and existing best practice.
-
Allow staff to sell back their unused annual leave from their carryover from 20/21 plus a proportion of leave from 21/22.
Media contacts: