Revised pay offer accepted

All 14 NHS unions, including the SoR, have completed consultations with members on the revised pay offer from the government, and all have decided to accept it. They will try to gain back the ground lost in the next round of submissions to the Pay Review Body (PRB) for 2007/08.

The Society will continue to campaign with the other unions to oppose the 2% cap on public sector pay in accordance with the motion passed at the 2007 Annual Delegates’ Conference.

The SoR consulted with members via SoR News, Synergy News and the website on the staging of the award and the revised offer. The difficult decision was taken by the SoR’s UK Council after it considered the results of the consultation, the low response rate and the diversity of views expressed by members on further action. It was also noted that many members were against taking industrial action, even for a limited period, because the financial loss would be greater than any likely gains.

This view was echoed by members of other unions and may account for the widespread poor turnout for ballots and consultations. Council also considered the reactions from other unions and it was obvious that there was almost no consensus to take action. “Our message to the government is that our acceptance of the offer is time limited and that we will not accept further interference in PRB awards which destroy relativities and earnings,” said Warren Town, SoR director of industrial relations.

“The decision by the 2007 ADC to continue to work with other unions to oppose staging of awards was not time limited and was not confined to the 2006-7 pay offer. This policy applies to future recommendations by the PRB. The next test for this government, who say they support the independence of the PRB, will be how they respond to the 2007/8 recommendations,” he continued.

“The 2007/8 PRB report and recommendations will be sent to the prime minister in a few months’ time. If Gordon Brown ignores the recommendation and insists that the only payment he will tolerate will be 2% or less, we are likely to see a backlash from all public sector unions not just in the NHS.

“This test may be even more relevant given that 2008 is likely to see a general election.”

What of future pay awards across the UK? Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland decided not to stage the award, unlike England, and paid all staff the full amount from April this year.

The National Independent Pay Review Body makes recommendations for all four countries but what has been highlighted this year is that the response from each respective health administration can vary. This is especially true for Scotland, which has complete autonomy on public sector pay.

“Whatever we feel about the inadequacy of the award for the NHS, we have to remember that the argument is about pay for the whole of the public sector,” comments Warren Town.

“Teachers, fire-fighters, local government, justice and the civil service are all subject to the same pay constraint. The future to the government may be determined not by their success in modernising the state, but their failure to support the staff that provide public services.”

What’s the deal?
The Pay Review Body recommended a 2.5% pay rise, which the government decided to stage into two parts: a 1.5% increase in April and the remaining 1% from this November.

This offer remains on the table for all pay bands. It has been implemented in full in Scotland and Wales. As a result of further talks in England, additional payments have been proposed to low paid staff.

In addition, it is proposed that registered professionals in bands 5 to 8a in England will receive £38 a year for three years to be used towards the cost of being on the HPC register.

How unions voted
Royal College of Nursing/UNISON ballots voted two to one in favour of the deal but turnout was poor. UNITE have accepted the revised offer; Chartered Society of Physiotherapists/British Dietetic Association/ British Orthoptic Society have all accepted following little response from members.

TGWU and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists have all rejected the offer but there is no evidence that members will support action.

Posted: 25/09/2007

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