NHS paramedics, nurses and hospital staff who are Unison members have accepted Government pay offer

Paramedics, nurses and hospital porters in England who are members of Unison have accepted the Government’s pay offer.

It puts to end the dispute that saw tens of thousands of union members strike over the winter months.

The offer covers two pay years, with staff receiving a five per cent pay rise this year and a one-off bonus for last year.

It comes ahead of an announcement this afternoon from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which called for an 18 per cent pay rise, on whether its members have accepted the same pay offer.

The union, which closed its ballot of members at 9am this morning, expect that nurses have rejected it and is planning a fresh vote on another wave of strike action, reports suggest.

Sara Gorton, head of health at the union, 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.’

She said NHS staff were ‘forced to strike’ and lost ‘money they could ill afford’, while the health service and patients ‘suffered months of unnecessary disruption’.

Ms Gorton urged the Government, which is still consulting with other unions representing healthcare staff, to ‘ensure NHS workers get the wage rises they’ve voted for at the earliest opportunity’.

She added: ‘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.’