Your pay rise was due on 1 April and the government has let this date slip by without giving you any idea of when it’ll make a decision.

There’s no urgency while your cost of living keeps rising. No urgency while the lowest paid staff are earning just a penny above minimum wage. No urgency while staff are questioning whether it’s worth staying in the NHS, let alone progressing.

Don’t you and your colleagues deserve better than that?

So now there are two questions that all UNISON members working for the NHS in England need to answer.

In short: what would you be willing to do if the government makes a pay award that falls short of your expectations? And what if the delays drag on?

A proper pay rise. The right banding. A shorter working week. That’s what UNISON members want and it’s what NHS staff deserve.

The NHS is in a staffing emergency with over 110,000 vacancies, spiralling workloads and a record patient backlog. You know that meagre pay awards from the government and tinkering around the edges of the pay scale simply won’t cut it. 

That’s why together we’re calling on the government to put NHS pay right to keep dedicated staff in their jobs and ensure more patients can be treated more quickly.

So what will it take to put NHS pay right? In our autumn survey, more than 40,000 NHS staff told UNISON that you need:

A proper pay rise

A majority of UNISON members – in every role, at every pay band – said that increasing core pay is the number one priority.

All staff working in the NHS need a proper pay rise to keep up with rising living costs and to provide a decent reward for the challenging work you do. Over a third of members report that they cannot get through the working day without worrying about finances and this cannot go on.

We need to fix problems up and down the pay scale to kick poverty pay out of the NHS for good; to maintain fairness between staff; and to make sure that when you progress or get promoted, you notice a real difference in your pay packet.

The right banding

All staff should be entitled to role and pay band reviews to make sure you’re getting paid at the right rate for the job. That means major national investment to ensure that the job evaluation process is fair, timely and effective.

Nurses, admin staff, catering staff and many others tell us that they are working above their band. Thousands of UNISON healthcare support workers have come together to fight for and win rebanding and back pay because the current creaking system leaves staff undervalued and underpaid.

A shorter working week

UNISON’s ambition is for a reduced working week in the NHS with no loss of pay. Better work-life balance would improve wellbeing, reduce burnout and keep staff in their jobs, reducing reliance on overtime and agency staff. While there may not be a quick route to a shorter working week, many staff have already identified areas of their work that could run more smoothly. Let’s start the conversation now!

Will you join the fight to put NHS pay right?

It is essential that we always have the right contact details and employer information for every single member so we can keep you updated on any developments with your pay. If you are unsure, please check and update your details now here: https://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison/ 

Please talk to your colleagues about your pay and conditions, and encourage them along to any meetings your branch is holding. Whether it’s sharing leaflets, signing petitions, speaking to the public or explaining UNISON’s position to staff who haven’t joined yet, your union is only as strong as its members.