UNISON HEALTH EXECUTIVE CALLS FOR PAY REVIEW

UNISON’s senior health activists have voted to trigger the reopener clause on the three-year pay deal for NHS workers.The call for a better pay deal comes in the wake of increases in the costs of fuel, energy and food which are driving inflation beyond the 2% increase predicted when the deal was negotiated in spring.UNISON head of health Karen Jennings said: "Nurses and other health workers are already struggling to cope with almost daily increases in the cost of basic necessities such a food and energy."The reopener clause was central to this year's multi-year pay talks because it provided a much-needed safety net against just this situation."Ms Jennings continued: "Our members reluctantly accepted 2.75% this year but the 2.54% and 2.5% increases negotiated for the next two years now fall well short of all expected inflation figures."UNISON will work with the other health unions to submit new evidence to the NHS pay review body making the case for reviewing the 2009/2010 pay rates.

Press Release http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1233