UNISON
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 .”
UNISON
UNISON membership is included in your RCOT membership for most occupational therapy staff . Make sure your employment and contact details are up to date with my . unison . org . uk so you always get the most relevant information directly by email
While Trudie Martin , Chair of the UNISON Nursing and Midwifery Committee states : ‘ I feel honoured to be part of a team and a job evaluation system that recognises my skills and the role I play in the NHS family and how we care for our patients .
‘ I do not want to be included in a separate pay spine . This proposal will cause havoc in job evaluation and lead to inequities across the UK and with the devolved administrations .’
What happens next ?
You can read the government ’ s call for evidence online , which opened on 11 January and closes on 4 April 2024 . Visit https :// bit . ly / 48Sv6kf .
UNISON will be responding to the call for evidence as an organisation and working with RCOT to develop an approach that represents the concerns of occupational therapy staff .
Following the call for evidence , the government will decide on whether to move forward with implementation of a separate pay arrangements for nurses .
UNISON and RCOT will continue to focus on campaigning collectively and winning better pay for occupational therapy staff , nurses , and everyone in the NHS . For example , we extensively surveyed our UNISON nursing family recently and nurses told us :
• They are struggling constantly with unsafe staffing levels .
• Their jobs are growing more complex and they are acting with more autonomy .
• They are taking much more responsibility for leading teams , as well as supervising and educating students and junior staff .
While the nursing and midwifery committee is overseeing an ambitious programme of work to tackle these issues , including the ‘ Only Enough is Enough ’ campaign , which supports nurses and midwives to challenge
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 .”
unsafe staffing levels at work , these are all issues we hear regularly from occupational therapists and all NHS staff , and for which UNISON and RCOT are campaigning and negotiating on across the NHS .
Complex and lengthy negotiations about separate pay arrangements will distract from these goals , weaken trade unions and divide the NHS team .
We are stronger as one team – let ’ s improve NHS pay together .
For RCOT ’ s response and a comment from Steve Ford , Chief Executive , see the news section ( page 6 ).
Protecting you at work
For help and advice at work – or to find out more about UNISON services – please contact your local BAOT / UNISON representative or branch . Visit https :// branches . unison . org . uk / or go to https :// bit . ly / 3OyL0Iy .
Debbie Reilly
Wilma Brown
Trudie Martin
If you need help at work 0800 0857 857 or www . unison . org . uk
February 2024 OTnews 51