Last Updated: 10 May 2002

6.5% pay deal for lowest paid health staff

(10/5/02) UNISON has accepted a pay settlement giving increases of up to 6.5% for 300,000 NHS staff, following a consultative ballot.

The deal covers 150,000 administrative and clerical staff, 90,000 ancillary staff, 45,000 professional and technical staff and 20,000 ambulance staff.

The main points of the agreement include:

• Minimum increase of £400 a year (pro-rata for part-time workers) or 3.6%.
• Most ancillary staff will get at least 5.2% on basic pay.
• Most hospital cleaners and domestics will get 6.5% (£552). Pay for cleaners now starts at £4.47 an hour, up from £4.20 an hour.
• Administrative and clerical staff have a new starting rate of £10,382, up from £8,834.
• Some of the lowest paid technicians will get increases of 7.6% to 12%.
• 7.6% increase for technical assistants and laboratory assistants who are stuck at the top of their grade.
• Dental auxiliary staff (nurses, therapists and hygienists) also benefit from restructuring and some staff stuck at the top of their grade will get about 7.6%.
• Ambulance staff receive 3.6% on basic pay with cash based allowances, including London weighting increased by the same amount. They will receive a 32% increase in the paramedic allowance.

UNISON national officer Yvonne Cleary, said:

“Whilst this doesn’t meet our original claim, it is a step in the right direction, especially for the lowest paid who are working hard to keep our hospitals running.

“But even with this award, our minimum rate of £4.47 an hour is still too low for a modern health service.

“We are disappointed that the employers refused to agree to reduce the working week. Most of these staff work excessive hours – ancillary workers are still on a 39-hour week.

“We shall continue pressing for shorter hours and a better minimum rate through the pay modernisation talks through the summer.”

More on UNISON’s healthcare unit.