87% of GMB’s NHS members in England, have voted to reject the three year pay deal for NHS and ambulance workers.

GMB, the union for NHS and ambulance workers, has announced members have overwhelmingly rejected the NHS pay offer.

Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary confirmed the announcement at the union’s 101st annual congress in Brighton. [Wednesday, June 6, 2018]

In total, 87% of GMB’s NHS members turned down the deal - which amounts to three more years of real terms pay cuts for over half of NHS Employees.

The deal, an average of 6.5% over three years, will mean a real terms pay cut for the most loyal, longest-serving NHS workers, who account for half the NHS workforce.

The OBR forecasts that RPI inflation is set to increase by 9.6% over the next three years. [1]

Since 2010, paramedics have lost an average of over £14,000, midwives £18,000 and staff nurse £14,500 thanks to the Government’s cruel and unnecessary pay cap. [2]

GMB’s tens of thousands of NHS members – including two thirds of all ambulance in England staff - decided they will not sign up for yet more pay cuts.

The union will convene a meeting of representatives on Friday 15 June to consider the next steps.

Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, said:

“GMB members across the NHS and ambulance service have overwhelmingly voted to reject this pay offer.

“After a nearly a decade of pay pinching, the prospect of a further three years of cuts to wages is unacceptable.

“GMB members have sent a clear message to Jeremy Hunt – it’s a no from us.”

Kevin Brandstatter, GMB National Officer, said:

"Jeremy Hunt's promise of jam tomorrow is simply not good enough for NHS workers who. During the past eight years, our members in the health service have faced the biggest pay pinch in living memory.

“GMB recommended that our members in NHS and Ambulance Trusts reject it, and they have done so unequivocally.

“Since 2010, paramedics have lost an average of over £14,000, midwives £18,000 and staff nurse £14,500.

“The offer won’t allow them to claw any of that cash back – in fact, for longer serving, most loyal NHS workers the 6.5% increase over three years actually means a real terms pay cut, doesn’t put things right and continues to punish those who have endured the pinch on pay.

“It does nothing to address the recruitment and retention crisis and it leaves the door open to new employees in the NHS being employed on worse terms and conditions than existing health service workers.”

ENDS

Contact:  GMB Press Office on 07958 156846  or at [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

High Res video of Rehana Azam here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2qo02vr6ozurlav/AAAlAy1ATCopBLhbnKsO_Z2ma?dl=0