‘Best way to deliver reform and a fair pay award is for government to negotiate directly with trade unions,’ RCN says
an Accident and Emergency signFOURTEEN health unions today jointly announced they will not take part in the “failed” and “defunct” NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) process, demanding talks with ministers instead.
The independent advisory body has settled pay issues for the majority of the health service’s staff since 2007.
In a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, unions representing staff on “agenda for change” contracts called on the government to deliver on its promise of direct talks for next year’s pay instead.
Union frustrations over lengthy delays, below-inflation awards and suspected political interference come as questions linger over Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership ahead of the party’s conference starting next week.
GMB had been the last major health union to engage with the PRB last year, which makes annual pay recommendations for NHS staff excluding doctors, dentists and some senior managers.
Chairwoman of the NHS unions and Unison’s head of health Helga Pile said: “The government promised talks over a year ago and they still haven’t got round the table with unions with any proper plan to sort things out.
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