NHS workers out again on 24 November
NHS staff in England and Northern Ireland were on strike again on 24 November. The row is over an imposed settlement that has threatened the independent credentials of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB). A separate settlement has been reached in Wales.
The PRB recommended a consolidated 1% uplift for all NHS staff, which was seen as affordable and disputed claims made by the Department of Health and the employers about the cost of incremental progression. However, health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s response was that only staff at the top of their pay band would receive a non-consolidated 1% pay uplift for 2014-15, while staff receiving increments would not. Because the same approach will be taken again in 2015-16 the NHS PRB will not be asked to report in 2015.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29598965
www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/need-to-know/industrial-action-autumn-2014
www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/nhs-strike-action-rock-solid
https://www.rcm.org.uk/news-views-and-analysis/news/midwives-strike-over-nhs-pay
www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/key-issues/nhs-pay/strike