Every union representing nurses in England has now aired its opposition to the 2025-26 NHS pay award, after Unison announced that a majority of its members would be willing to strike over it
The union asked its members if they would be prepared to take strike action to challenge the award. Of those who responded, almost three quarters (70%) said they would be willing.
“Ministers must show they value the workforce by starting grown-up talks with unions now”
Helga Pile
As a result, Unison has now called on the government to negotiate with itself and other unions representing nurses in England on pay, describing the vote as a “wake-up call”.
Helga Pile, Unison head of health, said the consultation result demonstrated the “seriousness of the situation”.
“Staff know government plans to transform the NHS won’t come to anything without them,” said Ms Pile.
“But the realisation that the government intends to continue using the discredited pay review body system, which repeatedly awards some health workers lower rises than other groups, has made them very cross.
“Ministers spinning the 3.6% increase as above inflation is only making matters worse,” she added.
Recent Royal College of Nursing (RCN) research suggested that, had pay awards kept up with retail price index (RPI) inflation over the last 15 years, the starting salary of a band 5 nurse would be almost £40,000.
Ms Pile said: “This groundswell of discontent will only grow if it’s not tackled head on, putting paid to any hope of the NHS recovery everyone wants to see. Staff are key to getting the NHS back on its feet.
“Ministers must show they value the workforce by starting grown-up talks with unions now. These are essential if the pay and working conditions that are holding the NHS back are to be addressed.”
Unison is the last major union with nurse or midwife members to publish the results of its consultation into the 2025-26 pay award, which, regardless of the votes, will be implemented later this month.
The RCN, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the GMB and Unite have all announced that their members have all overwhelmingly opposed the pay deal.
Of these unions, only the RCM has explicitly stated that it would likely not initiate a formal strike ballot. The other unions, including Unison, have not ruled industrial action out.
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