2 February updated message
Through our BAOT steward democratic structures we will be rejecting the separate pay arrangement for nurses in the Government’s consultation on the introduction of a separate pay spine for nurses in England.
To clearly represent our members' views in the consultation, we’re holding an extraordinary meeting of the leadership forum on 20 February. If you’re a member of the forum we encourage you to attend. If you haven’t received your invitation, please contact us.
If you wish to contribute to the consultation, you can either do it through your professional lead or your UNISON steward representative.
Look out in the February issue of OTnews for more on how UNISON and BAOT are organising to oppose the divisive nursing pay spine.
Watch the video message from Karin Orman, Director of Practice & Innovation:
12 January message
The government has launched a consultation on a nurse-only pay spine for England.
Commenting on this development, Steve Ford, RCOT Chief Executive, said:
“Through our BAOT steward democratic structures, we’ve been clear in rejecting a separate pay arrangement for nurses since the proposal first surfaced last year.
“The NHS relies on close co-operation across all its diverse job roles: OTs, nurses, support workers, physios, midwives, scientists, radiographers, dieticians, psychologists, and all. To be able to give their best for patients, the whole workforce needs to feel valued and be treated fairly and equitably. Harmonised arrangements stop inconsistencies in pay and conditions acting as a barrier to harmonious team working. That is counter to the whole ethos of occupational therapy and damaging team relationships in this way will hold back developments in patient care”.
UNISON acting head of health Helga Pile said:
“The NHS needs greater funding to be able to offer decent pay for all staff. That’s the way to recruit and retain the workforce that’s needed.
“Pitting different groups of staff against each other for a larger slice of what’s available is the wrong approach. It would divert time and resources from the real problems, damage team morale and tie employers up in years of equal pay claims.”
The Department of Health consultation will run until 4 April and is seeking views from a range of stakeholders, including unions. We will be contributing through UNISON and our BAOT representatives.
BAOT/RCOT members are members of UNISON, except for those who are wholly self-employed, employed overseas or retired.