Today (14 July), we’ve written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay raising concerns following the public sector pay announcement yesterday.
For the majority of professionals it relates to – police officers, prison staff, teachers and doctors – the percentage pay rise is greater than 5%, which is what RCN members working for the NHS in England rejected but was implemented earlier this year in respect of 2023/24.
The letter states the decision by the Prime Minister and Chancellor on public sector pay means that nursing staff and all those on NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions in England received the lowest percentage pay rise in the public sector.
In the letter, RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said the decision “highlights the long-term disparity, pay erosion and disadvantage of the nursing profession, and is, frankly, unjust.”
She continued: “Why does nursing deserve the least? Particularly, given nursing is one of the most diverse and female dominated professions within the public sector. The government has very clearly signalled it does not recognise or value their public service in the NHS in comparison to other professions.
“This government’s divisive approach to public sector pay is both cavalier and reckless at a time of the greatest industrial unrest the NHS has ever seen.
“Secretary of State, you have seen and heard the anger of nurses who stood on picket lines across the country. Our strike action may have ended for now, but the over half a million members I represent and the patients they dedicate their professional lives to deserve so much better than this. You and the government have a responsibility to act now.”
Read the letter in full here, and join our fight for Fair Pay for Nursing.
