The Royal College of Nursing Wales will present an additional revised NHS Wales pay proposal to its members following negotiations. It includes a new recovery payment for 2022/23, which was achieved on the back of a previous clear rejection from members, and also a consolidated rise for 2023/24. The offer is complex, reflected by the weeks taken to reach this final package, and the impact of it will depend on many different factors from person to person.
The offer is as follows:
For 2022/23
Already implemented:
• £1,400 for most pay grades
• an additional 3% announced earlier this year
- 1.5% consolidated increase (backdated to April 2022)
- 1.5% non-consolidated payment.
Further offer announced today:
• A one-off NHS recovery payment for both substantive staff and bank workers, with an average value of 3% across bands paid in a sliding scale. At the top of band 5, this equals a further £1,005.
For 2023/24
• A 5% consolidated increase with effect from April 2023.
• In addition the bottom two pay points will be increased to match the salary of a top of Band 2 which equates to a 7.8% increase for 2023-24.
The offer also includes a commitment from the Welsh government to the principle of pay restoration to 2008 levels and a list of non-pay elements including career progression for nurses, paid time to undertake professional development and the implementation of the nurse retention plan.
Helen Whyley, RCN Wales Director, said:
“The Welsh government returned to these negotiations because of the momentous pressure placed upon them by you, our members in Wales.
“You took the difficult decision to go on strike and your resolve and determination is what has led to the Welsh government to find the funds to improve its offer.
“More importantly, I would like to thank you for your patience whilst negotiations have been ongoing – I appreciate that this has been a frustrating time for you, but I assure you that we have striven to get the best offer possible. The offer doesn’t come close to the pay award you have been campaigning for, though we trust that it will go some way to helping you with the current cost of living crisis.
“You have suffered pay cuts and freezes over the last 10 years which has left pay woefully short compared to where it should be. Our priority is to ensure that restoration of pay over time remains at the forefront of the agenda for the Welsh government.
“The RCN Wales Board has considered this offer in full and decided, based on the considerably different impact that it will have across our membership, that it will not make a recommendation on whether to accept or reject.
“It is essential that you now make an informed choice based on your personal circumstances and, as always, in the best interest of your patients. Please use your vote no matter what your decision is; we can only continue to champion your voice and deliver a pay campaign that is led by our members if you have your collective say”.
What happens next?
All eligible RCN Wales members working in the NHS on Agenda for Change contracts will be asked if they accept or reject this offer in a consultative ballot which runs from 12 noon on Monday 24 April until 9am on Wednesday 10 May.
To make sure you can cast your vote online, check that you are able to log in to MyRCN and that your details are up to date. It is essential that your employer and all other details are correct for your vote to be counted.
Members will be able to vote online at rcn.org.uk/WalesConsultation and as soon as the ballot opens, members will also be notified by email. To vote, you will need to log in using your details.
Fair Pay for Nursing across the UK
In England, RCN members have rejected the latest offer from UK government. The RCN in England are seeking an urgent re-opening of pay talks with the UK government and planning a new 48-hour strike from 8pm on 30 April without derogations.
In Scotland, members accepted the latest government offer by a narrow majority, but RCN Scotland warns the Scottish government that it must live up to its promises to reform Agenda for Change and to make nursing a career of choice once again.
In the absence of devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, the RCN and representatives of the other health trade unions in Northern Ireland met Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, to discuss the continuing failure to formulate a pay offer for nursing staff and other health care workers. The Secretary of State has committed to a series of actions including the clarification of a health budget and the offer of a pay award to resolve our current dispute. The RCN Northern Ireland Board met recently to discuss the rejection of the pay offer in England and has stated that it will not hesitate to move quickly to further strike action if no offer is forthcoming for Northern Ireland.
