UNISON today (9 May) accepted a pay deal 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 deal gives a 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, but most hospital cleaners and domestics will get 6.5% (£552). Pay for this group 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% and there is also a 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:
ÒWhilst this doesnÕt 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.
ÒWe are disappointed that the employers refused to agree to reduce the working week. Most of these staff work excessive hours Ð 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 summerÓ.
ends