UNISON's roadmap to the negotiating table

NHS pay is overdue.

Just months after promising us negotiations at the end of the 2024 pay round, the government choose to stick with the discredited PRB process for this year. Unsurprisingly, NHS pay is delayed but at this rate an outcome could be June or later.

We want the government to sit down with UNISON and other unions to put NHS pay right. Currently, it won't.

And without action from us that is unlikely to change.

This government was elected on a platform of resolving disputes in the NHS through negotiations, but instead it is ignoring staff, deferring decisions and burning through good will.

We believe that by demonstrating we can deliver a credible strike threat in strategic areas on a rolling basis, we can drive the government to the negotiating table.

To do that, we need to prepare now.

Our core objective

We want to secure negotiations to put NHS pay right.

We want:

A proper pay rise: We need a significant real-terms improvement to the pay of all NHS staff - above inflation so we can continue to restore the value of pay and kick poverty pay out of the NHS for good. And we need reforms, to maintain fairness between staff; and to make sure that when staff progress or get promoted, they notice a real difference in their pay packet.

The right banding: All staff should be entitled to annual role and pay band reviews to make sure they're getting paid at the right rate for the job. This requires major national investment to ensure that employer job evaluation processes are fair, timely and effective in every NHS trust.

A shorter working week: UNISON's ambition is for a reduced working week in the NHS with no loss of pay.

Discussions should start on how this can deliver a better work-life balance to improve wellbeing, reduce burnout and keep staff in their jobs.

HSGE ballot strategy

The Employment Rights Bill will bring welcome changes. But the timing is uncertain and we cannot wait. For now we have to plan on the basis of existing 50% turnout requirements. If we can deliver results even with draconian laws still in place it will be a significant show of strength. But we can't do what we've always done. We must learn from our successes - and our failures - and do things differently.

Consultation of all members in the NHS

On Monday 14 April we will launch a consultation of all members directly employed by the NHS in England. This will aim to find out whether we have the democratic agreement of our members that escalating to industrial action would be the right thing to do.