Care Quality Commission pay ballot FAQs
Below, we answer some frequently asked questions about the pay ballot for Care Quality Commission (CQC) staff.
You can cast your vote on the RCN website in just a few clicks. You will need to be logged into the website with your membership details. You can contact our membership team on 0345 772 6100 for any support you may need.
RCN members employed by the Care Quality Commission can vote online today. You have until 12 noon on 25 September to vote. For your vote to count your MyRCN record must indicate correctly that you work at CQC. Check and update your details today if you think you might be missing the chance to vote.
Earlier this year you took part in a statutory ballot on industrial action regarding the 2022-23 pay award. Most recently, you were consulted on whether CQC’s improvement to this award was acceptable. After members decided it was acceptable, our 2022-23 trade dispute ended, and the pay award was implemented. This ballot relates to a new pay award for the current pay year, 2023-24, which is separate.
We understand it is CQC’s intention to implement the pay award in October’s payroll, backdated to September 2023. However, the wider issues that CQC has committed to exploring with trade unions may no longer be available if members deem the award unacceptable. These includes its job evaluation process, new mechanisms to advance through pay scales, the TUC’s Dying to Work charter, and the possibility of the CQC leaving the Civil Service Pay Remit, which dictates the level of pay awards CQC can make to its staff.
Only you can decide if this award is acceptable or unacceptable. If a majority of members deem it acceptable, it will be implemented, and discussions will begin on CQC’s wider commitments. If you think it is unacceptable, the RCN elected members on the Trade Union Committee will meet to determine next steps.
The Civil Service Pay Remit is the pay setting arrangements for civil servants, including departments, non-ministerial departments and agencies, as well public sector workers in non-departmental public bodies and other arm’s length bodies. This includes CQC.
Discussions with CQC on whether CQC should come out of the Civil Service Pay Remit will begin between CQC and trade unions shortly following the ballot. We believe these discussions will only take place if the award is deemed acceptable.
