NHS unions have received a new pay offer aimed at ending the long-running industrial dispute in England, with an announcement expected later today.
[Cost of living latest: NHS unions offered new pay deal](https://news.sky.com/story/cost-of-living-latest-four-day-week-breakthrough-ukraine-war-cost-1k-per-adult-in-gas-renters-face-cold-or-damp-12615118) But what we've said is that we are willing to make a more generous offer than was settled by the independent processes last year, providing it's not inflationary," he told Times Radio. ["sticking two fingers up to workers"](https://news.sky.com/story/budget-2023-chancellor-jeremy-hunt-has-stuck-up-two-fingers-to-workers-with-budget-says-union-12833721) after he [announced tax cuts for wealthy pensioners](https://news.sky.com/story/budget-2023-chancellor-jeremy-hunt-has-stuck-up-two-fingers-to-workers-with-budget-says-union-12833721), having insisted the country can't afford to pay key workers more. But nothing has been announced yet." [budget](https://news.sky.com/topic/budget-5954). [postponement in Wales](https://news.sky.com/story/ambulance-strikes-in-wales-on-monday-postponed-after-positive-talks-over-pay-12824703). [to increase public sector pay or face consequences in its services](https://news.sky.com/story/budget-2023-money-will-have-to-be-found-from-somewhere-for-public-sector-pay-says-ifs-12835196). I think those discussions are going very well. [for the first time in their more than 100-year history](https://news.sky.com/story/nursing-union-the-royal-college-of-nursing-announces-first-strike-in-its-106-year-history-12742357) just before Christmas, then again in January and February. [here](https://news.sky.com/story/nhs-strike-action-to-be-paused-after-union-recommends-members-accept-improved-pay-offer-12835466) [ambulance workers](https://news.sky.com/story/ambulance-strikes-suspended-as-unions-agree-talks-with-ministers-12824754) this month, saying they had been assured there was additional investment available for pay rises this year and next year, outside the current budgets. [agreed to suspend industrial action](https://news.sky.com/story/nurses-union-to-pause-strike-action-as-it-enters-intensive-talks-with-ministers-on-pay-12816623) while it entered into "intensive" negotiations with ministers.
After constructive talks with Health Unions, the government has put forward an offer for more than 1 million NHS staff to receive an additional pay rise.
Offer includes two one-off payments – 2% bonus and 4% Covid payment – plus pay rise of about 5%
The general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “It is clear that this government does not hold the interest of workers or the NHS at heart.” Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “It’s a shame it took so long to get here. There will then be a 5% pay increase for the coming year – which is likely to be above inflation if forecasts are correct. [Nursing](https://www.theguardian.com/society/nursing) (RCN) said they would recommend the new offer to their members, who would then vote on whether to accept it. The statement confirmed the offer included additional pay for 2022-23 and a pay settlement for 2023-24. The government has confirmed it is making a significant new pay offer to
CSP members working in the NHS in England will be consulted on a new pay offer secured through negotiations with the government in Westminster.
However, it does signal a significant shift in the government’s position and would put much-needed money in members’ pockets as well as giving some certainty for the year to come. Latest forecasts indicate that the 5 per cent offer for 2023-24 will represent an above-inflation deal and it represents an increase of 1.5 percentage points from what the government asked the pay review body to award.' For many months the government refused to discuss any additional pay rise for 2022-23, a position they have now had to reverse.
The breakthrough follows days of talks with the Government over the long-running dispute over pay.
Mr Taylor added: “The Government has said in its press release today that the cost of this will be met without any impact on patient services or quality of care. And we’ll want to see that being delivered on in the next few days. Members took the hardest of decisions to go on strike and I believe they have been vindicated today. “This offer is far from perfect, and of course our NHS workers deserve more. “We always aim for consolidated pay rises. She said: “GMB members should rightly be proud of themselves. Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton said: “It’s a shame it took so long to get here. Both sides have engaged constructively. While that process takes place any planned industrial action will be paused.” But Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, warned that the NHS does not have the money “just lying around” to fund the pay offer itself. “Obviously the starting position from a number of the unions was much higher and so both sides have worked together to reach a settlement which is both affordable to the wider taxpayer and then balances the very real pressures we recognise that NHS workers have been on. “Unison will now be putting this offer to the hundreds of thousands of health members in the union in the next few weeks, recommending acceptance.
If accepted, the offer would boost pay significantly this year and mean a wage increase next year that's more than the government had budgeted for.
An additional one-off lump sum for 2022/23 that rises in value up the NHS pay bands. -It is expected that the package will have consequences for devolved funding. While that process takes place any planned industrial action will be paused.” “It’s a shame it took so long to get here. “UNISON will now be putting this offer to the hundreds of thousands of health members in the union in the next few weeks, recommending acceptance. Commenting on the 2022/23 and 2023/24 pay offer to NHS staff in England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
Responding to the government's new pay offer for NHS workers in England Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Following months and months of ...
“It is clear that this government does not hold the interest of workers or the NHS at heart. The general secretary is Sharon Graham. They need to take full responsibility for their dither and delay, which has caused unnecessary pain to both staff and patients in the NHS.
Unions urge nurses, ambulance staff and other members to back deal including a one-off payment.
"We now await the decision of union members," he said. Strike action has also been paused in Wales and Scotland by most unions while new offers are considered. "I hugely admire the incredible work of NHS staff," he said. The two one-off payments for 22/23 we don't believe will create future inflationary pressures." The lowest paid will receive more. The offer, he claims, is "not really going to help recruitment in the NHS" because "only current staff members will get it".
The breakthrough follows days of talks with the Government over the long-running dispute over pay.
Mr Taylor added: “The Government has said in its press release today that the cost of this will be met without any impact on patient services or quality of care. And we’ll want to see that being delivered on in the next few days. Members took the hardest of decisions to go on strike and I believe they have been vindicated today. “This offer is far from perfect, and of course our NHS workers deserve more. “We always aim for consolidated pay rises. She said: “GMB members should rightly be proud of themselves. Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton said: “It’s a shame it took so long to get here. Both sides have engaged constructively. While that process takes place any planned industrial action will be paused.” But Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, warned that the NHS does not have the money “just lying around” to fund the pay offer itself. “Obviously the starting position from a number of the unions was much higher and so both sides have worked together to reach a settlement which is both affordable to the wider taxpayer and then balances the very real pressures we recognise that NHS workers have been on. “Unison will now be putting this offer to the hundreds of thousands of health members in the union in the next few weeks, recommending acceptance.
The long-running dispute has led to a series of walkouts by nurses, ambulance crews, paramedics, hospital porters and other health workers. Advertisement ...
No overall cost to the public purse was provided, but ministers said they could guarantee there will be no impact on frontline services as the result of the pay offer. It’s been a tough road but they have faced down the Department of Health and won an offer that we feel is the best that can be achieved at this stage through negotiation. It also leads to questions about the government’s claim that meeting demands for pay that better reflected double-digit inflation would only risk driving prices higher. Unite was unable to recommend the offer, but did not give a specific reason for this decision. The strikes will end only if members approve the deal after a period of consultation by trade unions. Unions generally sought wage hikes more in line with spiralling inflation, which has been near 10%.