Unite’s NHS Pay Consultation for England

Ballot opens Friday 31 March
Ballot closes Friday 28 April 2023

Strike action by thousands of Unite members working in the NHS in England since December 2022 forced the UK Government negotiate on the NHS Pay Review Body’s inadequate pay recommendation for 2022-23.

On 16 March 2023, the Government’s put forward a revised pay offer for NHS workers in England.

From Friday 31 March until Friday 28 April for 4 weeks, eligible Unite NHS members will be asked to consider the Government’s revised pay offer made on 16 March 2023.

You have one vote which you will be able to cast by either post, email or SMS text. Watch out for communications from Unite.

Our NHS Pay consultative ballot is for Unite members working in the NHS in England covered by NHS Agenda for Change terms & conditions. 

The new offer from the Government was won by thousands of NHS workers across England taking industrial action over the past few month, forcing ministers into meaningful talks. 

Read the statement on the revised NHS pay offer made by general secretary Sharon Graham here.

Your elected Unite Health National Industrial Sector Committee (NISC), made up of NHS workers just like you, has decided that it will make no recommendation on the offer to members, unlike other health unions that have advised members to accept the offer.

It is for you, our members, to make the final decision.

What next?

It’s your pay, your vote, your choice 

• You will receive your ballot paper, which will ask you to ACCEPT or REJECT the offer.
• The offer will be implemented in June if a majority of NHS trade unions vote to
• If Unite members vote to REJECT the Government’s revised offer, Unite will inform the Government and other trade unions that we cannot support the deal.
• This will mean that more and increased industrial action including strike action from you and your colleagues will be necessary as we will aim to reopen negotiations and win a better offer.

Unite will support members in whatever decisions they make and we will continue to campaign for fair and decent pay for our members.

What can you do?

1. Please do check your membership details are up to date on https://myunite.unitetheunion.org/login or talk to your Unite rep.
2. Invite your Unite workplace representatives, Regional Officers or National Officers to attend team meetings, coffee or lunch breaks or urge them to hold stalls and surgeries events to engage with you and your colleagues.
3. Display Unite materials urging members to use their vote.
4. Tell us what you think on [email protected]

The offer to NHS workers in England is as follows:

• An additional one-off lump sum for 2022/23 which rises in value up the NHS pay bands. To provide a range, this is worth £1,655 for staff on Band 2 (over 8%), £2,009 for staff at the top of Band 5 and £3,789 for staff at the top of Band 9.
• A permanent 5% pay rise on all pay points for 2023/24.
• An increase to Band 2, raising the lowest pay point in the NHS to £11.45 an hour – 55p higher than the real Living Wage.
• Additional funding to be provided to fund the offer.

Please see the tables below of what the Government’s pay offer means to you.

Permanent consolidated 5% pay offer on all points for 2023/24 – 5% plus Living Wage

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