Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation on the Welsh Government’s revised pay offer to Agenda for Change staff, which closed at midday today.
The results have now been presented to the RCM Board.
The results - which have been rounded to the nearest percentage - will need to be ‘verified’ as part of the due diligence process and that should be completed within a few days.
RCM Wales members have voted to ACCEPT the Welsh Government pay offer. In a turnout of 54% of eligible members, 67% voted to accept the offer, and 33% voted to reject it.
We know that the offer was not perfect, and it was not everything we asked for or that midwives and MSWs deserve but it marked a step forward and was only possible because of the strong collective voice of you, the RCM and the other NHS trade unions. The non-pay elements include areas the RCM has been campaigning on for some time, including flexible working, pay restoration, staffing.
Full details of the offer can be seen on the Welsh Government website.
Pay offer 2022/23
On top of the PRB recommendation for 2022/23 and on top of the 3% already implemented (1.5% non-consolidated paid in March and 1.5% consolidated due to be paid in May) for 2022-23. A further sliding scale one off NHS recovery payment (non-consolidated) has been offered pro rata for 2022-23.This will mean that both substantive staff and bank workers will receive the following payment if the offer is accepted.
Band 1 to 4 £900
Band 5 to 8a £1005
Band 8b to 8c £1100
Band 9 £1190
Pay offer 2023/24
A 5% consolidated increase with effect from April 2023 if the offer is accepted. (payment date to be determined)
An investment in the bottom of the pay bands so that band 1 and the bottom of pay band 2 have an increase of 8% taking them to £22.720.
What happens now
This offer was made to all the Agenda for Change NHS trade unions, which make up the Wales Partnership Forum, many of which are still consulting their members. The Partnership Forum will meet in the coming days and a decision will be taken, based on the results of all the consultations, including ours. A majority position will be established - on whether the Agenda for Change NHS trade unions accept or reject the pay offer - and this will be communicated with the Government.
We will be in touch soon after that meeting about the next steps.