GMB members across England join 5th June protests as first step in NHS pay campaign
Government have attacked pay and conditions and have failed to set out any direction as to what will happen to NHS pay in 2016 so we will not sit back and allow this says GMB.
GMB, the union for staff in the NHS, are taking part in protest action short of industrial action on June 5th across England following the Government's rejection of the NHS pay review body's recommendations for pay from 1st April 2014 for NHS staff.
Protests can take a variety of forms including lunchtime rallies and protests, campaign stalls, petitions, public meetings and meetings with MPs.
There is a protest at the Department of Health in Whitehall at 11.45am featuring NHS staff and GMB representatives with TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady. Rehana Azam GMB National Officer is attending the protest at noon in Liverpool outside the ACC at Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront L3 4FP where the 2014 NHS Confederation conference is taking place. These are just two of the numerous events taking place across England – in Norwich, Nottingham, Bristol, Salisbury, Kingston upon Thames, Manchester and Leeds.
GMB is formally consulting members on the offer put forward for NHS pay. See notes to editors for details of offer and GMB response.
The details of the offer are as follows:
- The Government is going to freeze the top of NHS pay bands to April 2013 pay rates.
- All staff on top of their pay band will receive a 1% nonconsolidated pay rise 2014/15 2015/16.
- Non-consolidated means the 1% is not wrapped up or included on any allowances such as overtime rates, unsociable hours allowance or pension.
- The non-consolidated 1% is calculated on basic/flat salary.
- NHS staffs still progressing across their pay bands subject to satisfactory performance and criteria should receive their incremental progression as set out in the Agenda for Change agreement but not the 1%.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Officer for GMB members in NHS, said
“The government are looking to implement a nonconsolidated pay award for 2014/15 2015/16. In short pay rates are frozen as of 2013 pay rates. The 1% over the next two years is not consolidated. This is a direct attack on how NHS pay has been awarded over the years.
"The government have clearly attacked pay and conditions and have failed to set out any direction as to what will happen to NHS pay in 2016. The national Agenda for Change agreement has been attacked and GMB will not sit back and allow this.
"GMB has consistently fought to retain a national agreement. GMB members were right to reject changes to the national agreement in 2013. We need to organise a fight back and we need every GMB member to have their say. NHS staff work tirelessly and this direct attack is unacceptable.”
