UNISON’S Conference Decision on Agenda for Change

Delegates at UNISON’s National Health Conference in Harrogate, today voted overwhelmingly in favour of recommending that Agenda for Change be implemented in 12 development sites across England. All UNISON health members will be balloted in May when they will be asked if they wish to proceed with implementor sites designed to test and monitor the proposed new system. The development sites would allow time for problems to be identified and ironed out ahead of a second vote next year to decide if it should be rolled out across the whole of the NHS.

Agenda for Change is the biggest shake-up of pay in the NHS since it was created over 50 years ago. The seriousness of the decision was reflected in the near 4 hour long debate.

Paul Marks, UNISON’s lead negotiator for UNISON on Agenda for Change told the conference:

“Agenda for Change re-establishes national bargaining for all members on trust contracts. It stops the drift towards local pay in the NHS, creates a single pay system and delivers equal pay for work of equal value. In addition the proposals will give the vast majority pay increases and lifts the minimum wage in the NHS from £4.47 to £5.17 – an increase of 70p or over 15%.

“You have a choice kill Agenda for Change and stay with the past or accept Agenda for Change and build for the future.”

Following the decision to recommend acceptance, Karen Jennings, UNISON’s Head of Health :

“This clear decisive vote mandates UNISON to go ahead with early implementers and ensures that health service members will get their pay rise in their pocket as soon as possible.

“UNISON is committed to putting resources into these implementer sites to ensure we get the best out of Agenda for Change over the next year and in further discussions.”

Ends