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The government and health unions will start negotiations to try to resolve the bitter dispute over salaries. The Department of Health and Social Care is due to start talks on Tuesday with unions representing paramedics, physiotherapists, nurses and midwives. Both sides have pledged not to make routine comments during the negotiations.
It is understood that discussions will focus on compensation for 2022/23 and 2023/24, as well as a number of other topics.
That doesn't mean the feud is over, but it does mean we potentially have a negotiated exit, which is definitely a better place to be than we were this time last week.
But any payments for the current fiscal year will be 'unconsolidated', meaning they will be in the form of a one-time payment and will not roll over to next year's payroll for health officials.
The government has already indicated that it will only be able to give NHS staff on the Agenda for Change contract, which includes most NHS workers plus doctors, dentists and senior managers, a maximum 3.5% increase in the salary of the next year. grant.
But it has been suggested that there might be some leeway over that figure during the negotiations.
Discussions may focus on other topics, including staff distribution, work hours, compensation at lower pay rates and how compensation is set each year, it is understood.
Speaking Monday, Unison's health chief Sara Gorton, who is leading negotiations for the unions, said unions were entering talks with "extreme caution" but added: "But we're also happy to be in that position, instead of sitting here telling you about the industrial action we were going to take on Wednesday.
"I think the main takeaway from the events of the last few days is that it doesn't mean the dispute is over, but it does mean that we potentially have a negotiated path out of it, which is definitely a better place to be." of what we were not. this time last week.
Unison said it would keep the discussions confidential "until we can assess whether there has been progress," which will be before action is scheduled for March 20.
“This is the next kind of official record and lay members of Unison and other unions will need to know if these talks are meaningful, rather than just a tactic to delay and get to the other side of the budget without further industrial action.” added Mrs. Gorton.
He continued: "We'll find out in the first few days if this is a serious conversation or if it's just a delaying tactic, due to the willingness to participate from what we see. On the other side of the table, I think it will be pretty obvious if we pass.
Previously, the government had only talked to nurses, but nurses have now been "embedded" into all staff, he added.
The unions have agreed to postpone the strike while talks take place, but an ambulance strike scheduled for March 20 has yet to be called off.
And unions can always plan future strike dates.
The unions directly involved in the negotiations are: Unison; the Collegiate Society of Physiotherapy; GMB; Bind; the Royal College of Midwives; and the Royal College of Nursing.
The negotiations are not with the young doctors, who are still set to go out for 72 hours next week.
PA wire
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