The Welsh Government has made its final offer to NHS workers in Wales in a bid to end the strikes. Health Minister Eluned Morgan released details of the offer, which she said had been negotiated with unions and would now be put to their members.
Ms Morgan said that the offer had been made to trade unions including the RCN, RCM, Unison, CSP, GMB, BMA, BAOT and SOR. She said it was the final offer the Welsh Government would be able to make this financial year.
Most of the health service unions have paused their strikes following the Welsh Government's initial offer, although the Unite union continued with its strike on Monday and has named further dates in February.
She said any additional money the Welsh Government receives if there is a pay offer in England which results in a Barnett consequential (a proportionate amount of additional money) coming to Wales would be passed on to staff.
The offer promises all NHS staff in Wales:
- A one-off cash payment equivalent to 1.5% of their salary
- A 1.5% pay increase which will be consolidated in their annual salary
- To reinstate immediately the unsocial hours allowance
- To review career progression arrangements and develop a new framework
- Commit to the principle of restoring pay to 2008 levels
- Establish a working group to explore the feasibility ot moving to a 36 hour week
- Reduce the use of agency staff
Other pledges include delivering an all-Wales policy on flexible working , driving up staff retention and creating a policy on retire and return.
Ms Morgan said the new offer was equivalent to a 7.12% pay rise this year for Band 5 nurses with a 1.5% cash bonus on top.
She said: "As a result of these discussions, we have arrived at a final package of measures which the RCN, RCM, Unison, CSP, GMB, BMA, BAOT and SOR have agreed to put to their members who will ultimately make a decision on whether or not to accept the offer." Due to constraints imposed by the fiscal framework within which the Welsh Government operates, the funding for the costs in the current financial year only remains available until the end of March. Ms Morgan added: "The reality is, that if this offer is rejected we will be unable to make any higher pay offer for 22/23."
Ms Morgan added: "I sincerely hope that the non-pay elements provide sufficient assurance of our commitment to improving both recruitment and retention and the health and well-being of staff."
As well as starting the pay review process for the next financial year and committing to a fair pay rise for workers (on top of the additional 1.5% that will be consolidated into the pay scale as part of this year’s offer), Ms Morgan said she would also look to change the Pay Review Body (PRB) process.
The offer also promises to reinstate - with immediate effect - the unsocial hours allowance after three weeks sickness absence (a 50% reduction from six weeks). There will be further work in social partnership over the next 12 months with the aim of reducing this further.
The Welsh Government has promised to review career progression arrangements starting with nurse and other health care professional’s progression from band five to six. This will include, but not be limited to, the development of a framework for career progression by summer 2023, Ms Morgan said.
There will also be a new working group tasked with exploring the feasibility and implications of reducing hours in the working week for Agenda for Change staff which will report by autumn 2023. And work will be done to reduce reliance on agency workers through incentivising NHS employment e.g. weekly pay, annualised hours, additional hours.
Other measures include moving towards flexible working becoming the default and delivering an all-Wales policy on retire and return by the end of 2023.
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