The offer made by the UK government last week consists of a one-off payment for the current financial year 2022/23 worth between £1,655 and £3,789 and a 5% consolidated (permanent) pay increase for 2023/24 for all those at point 2 of Band 2 and above. The additional offer for 2022/23 is on top of the already implemented, consolidated pay uplift of at least £1,400, awarded to members last year.
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‘To get the talks with the UK government was a breakthrough,’ said RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen.
‘After months of ministers touring TV studios behind me saying there was no money, and they could not reopen the current pay deal, they did. It was you, our members, who got them to.’
The offer also includes a series of commitments and plans to improve pay, terms and conditions over time. These include a specific commitment to the RCN to consider a new pay spine exclusively for all nursing staff, as part of work to tackle challenges faced by nurses and nursing with the intention that resulting changes can be delivered within the 2024/25 pay year.
‘Over three weeks we certainly asked for much more than what has been offered. The government increased its pay offer each time. But there comes a point in negotiations where you know the other side won’t give any more. This is not the first offer either, it’s the government’s final offer. The RCN said no to a dozen earlier versions of this to get the government higher,’ added Ms Cullen.
‘I am your General Secretary and I will always do what is best for nursing but now I want to hear from you.’