A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS The multi-year proposed agreement Contents: Context Negotiations The agreement UNISON policy

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS Context (1) 2007/8 pay settlement UNISON health conference policy: Abolition of band 1 Flat rate increases for low paid workers Reduction in incremental points Reduction in working week Target minimum wage £6.75 (NDC) NHS Pay Review Body evidence Economic climate: tightening of public finances RPI – current 3.8% (March)forecast 2.9% (end 2008) 2.5% (2009) CPI – current 2.5% (March)

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS Context (2) Government public sector pay policy 2% per annum for each of the three years of the CSR Other PRB pay settlements: Armed forces:2.6% Prison officers:2.2% Hospital doctors:2.2% Teachers (Eng & Wales): 2.45%(2008); 2.3% (2009); 2.3% (2010) Teachers (Scotland):2.25%(2008); 2.5% (2009); 2.4% (2010)

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS Negotiations Negotiating body Staff Council Executive members plus extra seats for Scotland and Wales Included: UNISON; RCN; Unite: RCM; CSP and GMB Staff side objectives: TU facilities agreement Restructuring of long pay bands and appropriate structure at lower end Break 2% pay threshold Reduction in working week Future of IWL Major obstacle: Government CSR pay threshold

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS Negotiations (contd) Commenced September 2007 Initial progress on TU facilities agreement No progress on pay First offer – January 2008: 7% over three years: 2.45%; 2.2%; 2.2% (not including restructuring costs) Rejected by staff side negotiators

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS Negotiations (contd) Staff side position: await outcome of PRB Continue talks on years two and three Further discussions held on 2 nd and 4 th April resulted in the proposed multi-year agreement which included the PRB recommended uplift for 2008/9 as the year one increase

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS The proposed agreement For 2008/9; 2009/10 and 2010/2011 Contains a combination of: % uplifts to all spine points Restructuring Flat cash element Overall uplift of 8.1% Non-pay elements

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS The proposed agreement:

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS

UNISON policy: Health Conference decided not to make a recommendation and to allow members to determine our position All members working in health will be asked to vote in a ballot: Ballot papers issued on or after 15 May Cut off for request for papers03 June Ballot closes 06 June

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS If rejected in member ballot: Refer to Industrial Action Committee for decision on industrial action ballot Effective industrial action including strike action Risk of staging/abating of PRB recommendation by Government No agreement on removal of lowest pay point No talks on reduction of working week No policy on work/life balance No restructuring of long pay bands No TU facilities agreement

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS If accepted in member ballot: Payment of 2008 money June 2008 Payment of 2009 and 2010 monies on 01 April Monitoring of r&r issues, labour markets, economy If inflation rises, return to PRB to trigger re-opener 2011 PRB process as in annual process

A FAIR DEAL FOR HEALTH WORKERS