NHS unions spurn pay review body

The 14 unions that make up the NHS union group have announced that they will not submit joint evidence to the NHS pay review body for the next wage round (2023/2024) while the current industrial disputes remain unresolved – and called instead for direct talks with government.

The group represents over a million ambulance staff, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and other NHS workers in England.

Chair of the group, and UNISON head of health, Sara Gorton explained: “The pay review body process doesn’t fit the current context.

“The NHS staffing crisis is so acute only prompt action on pay – both for this and the next financial year – can start to turn things around.”

The 14 NHS unions are the: British Association of Occupational Therapists, British Dietetic Association, British Orthoptic Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Podiatry, Federation of Clinical Scientists, GMB, Managers in Partnership, Prison Officers Association, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Society of Radiographers, UNISON, and Unite.

Separately, Unite called for the NHS pay review body to be abolished, describing it as “not fit for purpose” and “a total farce”.