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NHS workers who are members of the Unison trade union have accepted the Welsh Government’s new pay offer – while the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales has rejected it and will continue to strike.
The pay offer sees wages increase by 5%, payable from April 1, 2023 – with an addition one-off payment for 2022/23 worth between £900 and £1,190.
Unison said 78% of its members voted to accept the Welsh Government offer. However, it demanded the increased wages are put into the pockets of workers as soon as possible.
Jess Turner, of Unison Cymru, said: “We’re pleased the new pay offer will now be rolled out but it’s vital that it reaches pockets of NHS staff in Wales without delay.
“The NHS is one team. Every job and every worker make an essential contribution to patient care.
“Thanks to this deal, NHS staff will receive their pay rise much sooner than in previous years. This sets an expectation for the way NHS pay is approached in future in Wales.”
Earlier this week, members of the NHS Wales Partnership Forum Trade Union Group, which is made up of all health unions in Wales, met to discuss the latest pay offer.
The majority of unions were in support of the deal. However, RCN Wales was one of two unions to reject it.
Helen Whyley, RCN Wales Director, said she had written to health minister Eluned Morgan, calling for further negotiations.
She said: “Unless that happens, members of RCN Wales will be on the picket lines once again from next month.
“I respect those, in our membership and in other unions, who voted to accept, but this was not the view of the majority of our membership.
“The decision to take strike action is not taken lightly by us or our membership. Nursing staff are the largest part of the NHS workforce and they require an offer that matches their true value.
“The voice of nursing needs to be heard once and for all, before the profession and patient care is depleted any further.”
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Negotiations were “challenging for all sides”
In a statement sent out to Senedd Members, Welsh Government health minister Eluned Morgan said workers will receive the payments “as soon as practicable”.
Mrs Morgan said: “The offer we made came as a result of negotiations which were challenging for all sides.
“We have been transparent regarding the difficult financial position facing the Welsh Government without additional funding from Westminster.
“Hard decisions have had to be taken across all Welsh Government departments and within the health and care budget to reach the position we have.
“This position has not changed and to date there has been no indication of additional funding from UK treasury.”
Mrs Morgan confirmed two unions remain in dispute over the 2022/23 pay award, and said she recognises “the strength of feeling amongst members of all unions, whether they voted to accept or to reject.”
She said the Welsh Government will continue discussions “where we can” to address “legitimate specific concerns and to avoid any further industrial action”.
“Clarity is needed on how it will be funded”
Meanwhile, Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: The efforts of the Welsh Government and trade unions to maintain an open dialogue, pause strike action and work in social partnership to find a resolution to the dispute have been a shining example of the benefits of working in social partnership.?”
What is the Welsh NHS Confederation?
The Welsh NHS Confederation is a body made up of the seven health boards and three NHS trusts in Wales, as well as Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).
According to its website, the Welsh NHS Confederation “support[s] our members to improve health and wellbeing by working with them to deliver high standards of care for patients and best value for taxpayers’ money.
“We act as a driving force for positive change through strong representation and our policy, influencing and engagement work.”
He added: “We understand this package has been negotiated against a backdrop of extremely challenging public finances, however clarity is needed on how it will be funded.”
He called on the Welsh and UK Governments to cover the increased financial cost to NHS organisations without impacting patient care and tackling waiting lists.
He also called for the “underlying issues affecting the NHS that led to this activity being felt as necessary in the first place” to be addressed.
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