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Nurses' anger over 'unfair' pay deal Target MPs over pay - nurse leader
(about 4 hours later)
There is a "real sense of anger" among nurses in England about an "unfair" pay offer, nurse leaders are warning. Nurses should target MPs in marginal seats to turn up the pressure over pay, the Royal College of Nursing says.
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Peter Carter said a government decision to block an across-the-board 1% rise could dominate the union's annual conference this week. Ministers have blocked a recommendation for a 1% across-the-board rise for health staff in England.
He even said he could not rule out calls for industrial action. General secretary Peter Carter urged nurses to resist the temptation to push for a strike.
In March, the Department of Health said staff entitled to progression-in-the-job increases would not get the rise. Instead, he said with 1,000 nurses in each constituency they could make a difference between an MP being elected or not in tight seats.
The automatic increases are designed to reward professional development. They are given to half of all NHS staff and are worth more than 3% on average. Speaking at the union's annual conference, he said the decision in March to only give 1% to those who did not get that sum in progression-in-the-job increases (designed to reward professional development) was "ruthless".
But the government rejected recommendations from the independent pay review body for the across-the-board rise to be given to all staff in 2014-15. Push on pay
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said implementing the pay body's recommendations would be "unaffordable and would risk the quality of patient care" as nursing jobs would have to be cut if everyone in the NHS got the 1% rise. These are given to half of all NHS staff and are worth over 3% on average. But the independent pay review body had recommended 1% be given to everyone.
In contrast, the Scottish Government has accepted the 1% recommendation. Talks are on-going in Wales and Northern Ireland. Mr Carter compared this to the 11.5% pay rise the MPs got following a review of their pay.
So far the RCN has not called for industrial action, unlike Unison and Unite which have both balloted members. Other health unions - Unison and Unite - have balloted their members about industrial action.
But Mr Carter said he could not rule out emergency motions at the four-day conference which gets under way in Liverpool later. But Mr Carter told delegates at the start of the four-day conference in Liverpool that strike action would not be right as it would leave "patients in the lurch".
He told the BBC pay would be a "topic of hot discussion". However, he added: "There are many MPs on all sides of the House of Commons that have small majorities, some just a few hundred, some even as low as 30 to 40 votes.
He said the anger was fuelled by what appeared to be a growing pay bill for senior NHS managers. "There are about 1,000 nurses in each consistency and if we mobilise ourselves I know that many of those MPs will be looking over their shoulders and wondering if they'll be re-elected at the general election next year. Your vote can be the difference between returning to parliament or being out of a job.
Door open "That's why now is the time to lobby them. To flush them out to say where they are standing on health workers' salaries."
Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the RCN shows that the amount spent on executive directors, who sit on the boards of NHS trusts, has grown by an average of 6.1% in the last two years compared to the 1.6% extra nurses, health visitors and midwives have got. Mr Carter said the anger in the profession was being fuelled by what appeared to be a growing pay bill for senior NHS managers.
Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the RCN shows that the amount spent on executive directors, who sit on the boards of NHS trusts, has grown by an average of 6.1% in the last two years compared to the 1.6% extra nurses, health visitors and midwives have got, the RCN said.
However, the executive director figures also include termination payments so it could be a sign of the NHS getting rid of senior staff.However, the executive director figures also include termination payments so it could be a sign of the NHS getting rid of senior staff.
Nonetheless, Mr Carter added the findings were a "kick in the teeth" for nurses.
"Failing to pay nursing staff a decent wage will continue to affect nurses' living standards and morale and cause many more to consider leaving the NHS," he said.
"The government should do the decent and honourable thing and give nurses a decent wage."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the figures on executive pay should be "treated with caution" as other data suggested there had been no increase.A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the figures on executive pay should be "treated with caution" as other data suggested there had been no increase.
She added: "We have an available budget of nearly £1bn for pay increases. We have offered to look at any proposal the unions make on how to use this money.She added: "We have an available budget of nearly £1bn for pay increases. We have offered to look at any proposal the unions make on how to use this money.
"However, they have not put forward any proposals to help the lowest paid. Our door remains open if they wish to reconsider their position.""However, they have not put forward any proposals to help the lowest paid. Our door remains open if they wish to reconsider their position."
Are you are nurse working in England? You can share your views with us by contacting haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'pay deal' in the subject heading. In contrast to the situation in England, the Scottish Government has accepted the 1% pay rise recommendation. Talks are on-going in Wales and Northern Ireland.