Getting a broad understanding
current pay
A key part of our contract is the the 200 page
NHS Agenda for Change
Terms and Conditions Handbook this gives you the detail. |
Pay Campaigning |
| Our pay slips.
By law employers are required to provide us with an
itemised pay slip ... but what does it all mean - click
here to see the document
produced by stewards in the Mental Health Trust but please note - not
all local trusts have the same allowances. |
Our current pay deal is for
3 years:
 | 2.75% increase from April 2008,
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| 2.54% from April 2009 and
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| 2.25% from April 2010 |
It has been highly controversial
UNISON's Health Group Executive didn't recommend it and the health
conference agreed it by just the smallest majority. The proposed 3 year
deal went to members with the conference recommendation to accept.
UNISON members voted to accept the deal so the union signed up.
What are the issues?
Inflation measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI) is considerably above
this level. What's more inflation has been particularly high for basic
food and energy costs which means that since low paid workers spend a
big part of wages on these basics the real rate of inflation for them
and their families is very, very high.
NHS unions are currently trying to pressure the
government to reopen negotiations but the mechanism for doing this is
particularly difficult to trigger. Unless we achieve an improvement in
pay its likely we will ask members if they wish to take industrial
action.
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| What pay am I on?
Almost all staff are on 'NHS Agenda for Change' pay and conditions - the
main exceptions being doctors, directors and dentists. The pay scale is
split effectively into 12 pay bands - each of which has a number of pay
points or increments. Normally NHS staff progress through the increments
each year on the anniversary of getting the job - but this progression
can be halted at certain gateways if we are not considered to be doing
the job competently. Also when you get to the top of your band you make
no further progress unless you are promoted to a higher banded job.
Current 2008-09 pay scale (annex C) |
| How do I calculate my hourly rate?
The payscale (see above) assumes we work a 37.5 hour work week (standard
in the NHS) - it also takes into account our rest days and holidays. To
work out your hourly rate divide your gross pay (you can find this in
the document above) by 1955.3625 - this can also be used for part time
employees. |
I work in the evening, night or over
the weekend do I get any compensation? Additional payments should be
made to staff who work unsocial hours - and if you are sick or on leave
these payments should continue. (Note the lowest paid staff get the
biggest percentages - and some staff are on transitional arrangements.)
Pay
band |
All time on Saturday
(midnight to midnight)
and any week day after
8 pm and before 6 am |
All time on Sundays and
Public Holidays (midnight
to midnight) |
| 1 |
Time plus 50% |
Double Time |
| 2 |
Time plus 44% |
Time plus 88% |
| 3 |
Time plus 37% |
Time plus 74% |
| 4to9 |
Time plus 30% |
Time plus 60% |
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| Who decides on pay increases?
Normally each year the NHS unions send evidence to the Pay Review Body
about what pay rise is needed to maintain our living standards and for
the NHS to recruit and retain adequate numbers of staff. NHS Employers
also send in evidence ... essentially about why they are too poor to
afford a pay rise! The Pay Review Body then considers the evidence and
makes a recommendation to the government. The government then
decides whether to accept this. UNISON has always insisted on having a
say on the findings of the Pay Review Body. This is a government
appointed body and we don't automatically accept their findings.
If the pay offer is inadequate the unions can ballot members on taking
industrial action - including strike action. Pay increases are payable
from 1st April each year. Basically NHS pay is determined nationally. |
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Local pay issues.
There are a few issues which are left to local negotiation - for
instance the High Cost Area Supplement - like 'London Weighting' this
compensates for high living costs in the south east. |
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Redundancy
The situation is changing particularly for older workers. NHS
redundancy rates are now basically one month for every year you've
worked in the NHS ... but the devil is in the detail .... see NHS
Employers. |
|
Pensions
Again - all change. Pension contribution rates have gone up and the
normal pension age has now been set at 65 for new members of the scheme
- on the positive side the new scheme is based on sixtieths rather than
eightieths so after just 30 years you can retire on half wages plus
state pension (providing you are over 65). The NHS pension scheme is not
tied into the ups and down of the stock market and the NHS makes a
generous contribution. Its one of the better pension schemes around. |
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