Following GMB members in England rejection of this year’s NHS pay award, we met the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Wes Streeting on Monday 11th August.
Wes Streeting was accompanied to the meeting by Karin Smyth, Minister for Health. GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison accompanied three GMB reps to the meeting: Martin Jackson – Charge Nurse at Barnsley Hospital and Chair of GMBs National NHS Advisory Group; Paul Turner – Paramedic at North West Ambulance Service and Chair of GMBs National Ambulance Committee; and Dawn Lovatt – Referral & Triage Administrator at Lincolnshire NHS.
GMB opened the meeting by advising that our members had rejected the pay award for many issues, including pay. We opened the meeting with member stories from the frontline. We expressed that despite what government are saying about what they are doing in the NHS, workers are not feeling it and need to feel and experience real change now.
Paul Turner spoke about the damaging impacts of unsocial hours arrangements in the ambulance and the realities of the two tier system introduced by Section 2. He highlighted the impacts this has had on ambulance worker career progression, and financial penalties for being off sick or pregnant. Paul also raised GMBs campaign for a reduced retirement age for ambulance service workers and the impracticalities of making them work in such a physically and emotionally demanding job until they were 67. Paul referenced the need to restore pay, and whilst they were doing that, focus on the wins that could be achieved by improving peoples terms and conditions. He also spoke about the need to invest more in the front line workers rather than just senior and middle management.
Martin Jackson raised issues around the job evaluation crisis in the NHS and the need to address Band 2-3 re-grades, and the progression between Bands 5-6 Nurses. Martin also raised the real issues being felt on the ground as a result of ICB cuts. It may be the ICBs that have been told to save money, it is the trusts that are implementing changes, and this is bring done by penny pinching, such as cutting paid breaks. He also spoke about the disgrace that the NHS is no longer a real living wage employer, and the damaging impact on staff morale that happens each year when Band 2 staffs wages fall below the minimum wage and require a top up. Finally, martin spoke about the People Promise which is not being implemented at a local level and the messaging around values needs enforcing.
Dawn Lovatt spoke about the damaging impacts on the workforce of budget cuts, restructures, application of MARS and the changes to international workers visas. Dawn highlighted how more work needs to be done around job evaluation, particularly for the lowest paid. She spoke about how trusts across the country are implement cost saving measures which are damaging to staff morale, including restricting access to flexible working and reducing long service recognition award payments. She highlighted that the NHS used to be a job for life, but now sadly it isn’t and reminded government that they were the custodians of our NHS and they had a responsibility to protect it and its workers.
The Secretary of State was shocked by some of the stories from the frontline and expressed a keen interest to continue hearing about the realities of life on the front line from GMB. He also committed to working more closely with GMB reps, particularly in the ambulance service, to help deliver real change quickly. He encouraged our continued involvement with the Agenda for Change structural reforms and that more money and investment would be needed. He also recognised that some workers in the NHS are currently sitting outside of Agenda for Change within private employers on outsourced contracts and that trusts have a responsibility to ensure that all workers within their trusts are treat fairly and rewarded appropriately.
Upon concluding the meeting, GMB advised that the priority for government must be restoring NHS pay to what pre austerity levels. We also advised that the Pay review Body process was no longer working for NHS workers, and GMB would be prioritising the Agenda for Change structural reforms instead. We welcome any additional investment that can be made into that work, to ensure the reforms truly deliver for NHS workers.
Following the meeting, all reps felt listened to. GMB looks forward to continuing to hold this government to account and ensuring the worker voice is front and centre in the campaign to improve the working lives of NHS workers.
Martin Jackson: “I think that they listened. I also think that we were able through the conversation to get all of our points over and more than I thought we would. It was a proper conversation and hope that we will see results soon.”
Dawn Lovatt: “The meeting was positive. No MP speak…we got the floor first and that surprised me.”
Paul Turner: “I believe the meeting went well, and I am hopeful that he will address the issues that are most important to ambulance workers, specifically the retirement age, section 2 and restorative pay.”
Rachel Harrison: “Once again, GMB reps have done the GMB and their members proud. All three were not afraid to express their feelings and ensure the members issues were taken straight to the Secretary of State. They felt listened to and taken seriously, and they are committed to ensuring we continue to keep holding the government to account.”