UNISON and BAOT will organise to oppose the divisive nursing pay spine
UNISON
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UNISON and BAOT will organise to oppose the divisive nursing pay spine
The government has launched a call for evidence on proposals that would create separate pay arrangements for NHS nurses in England , splitting up the NHS team .
As well as representing occupational therapy staff in RCOT , UNISON represents hundreds of thousands of healthcare staff . Part of this is a large nursing membership , including registered nurses , midwives , nursing associates , healthcare assistants and thousands of healthcare students and future nurses .
With one voice , we will be opposing this proposal – and like in delivering care , our voices are stronger together .
Our nursing and midwifery committee , made up of elected nursing representatives from across the UK , opposes this policy and UNISON health conference 2023 , the largest national gathering of NHS staff , voted unanimously to campaign against this divisive move .
What would separate pay arrangements mean ?
Introducing separate pay arrangements for nurses in England :
• Would not increase the overall commitment to spending on NHS pay , nor would it necessarily mean a greater share of overall funding going to nurses .
• Would lead to greater inequalities in NHS pay . Current arrangements ensure equal pay for equal jobs . Separate , complex arrangements for nurses could lead to unjust and unequal pay between different staff groups .
• Would collapse collective pay bargaining in the NHS . Other occupational groups would likely also demand separate arrangements , ending our ‘ one team ’ approach to pay and dividing the workforce irreparably .
Why are occupational therapy stewards and UNISON nurses speaking out against this proposal ?
Debbie Reilly , Occupational Therapist and Chair of the National OT Stewards Panel says : ‘ It is important that pay remains on an equal footing for all NHS employees . Nurses , occupational therapists and healthcare staff work in the NHS as one team – we ’ re so much stronger together and we can ’ t let these proposals break us apart .’
Wilma Brown , Nurse and Chair of UNISON ’ s Health Service Group Executive adds : ‘ The introduction of a separate pay spine would cause many serious problems for the NHS from an equal pay perspective . The damage it would do to morale and the ability of the NHS team to deliver the best patient care would be devastating .’
50 OTnews February 2024