The RCN and other unions representing NHS employees have said that they will not submit joint evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body while pay disputes remain unresolved.
The unions, together representing more than one million members of nursing staff, ambulance staff, porters and other NHS employees, have instead called for direct pay talks with ministers.
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‘Unions believe the lengthy pay review body process is currently not fit for purpose. The RCN and other unions have also questioned its independence,’ said the RCN in a statement.
‘In a letter to the PRB, we asked a series of tough questions and are considering its response before taking a final decision about whether to participate individually in its process for this financial year. While the joint union submission to the PRB will not happen, individual unions may still submit evidence to the process for the 2023/24 pay year. However, we are primarily seeking urgent and direct negotiations with government.’
The news comes as the Guardian reports that Steve Barclay has privately conceded he will have to increase his pay offer to NHS staff, in a U-turn that may help to end the wave of strikes. However, the Treasury has made clear he will have to find any new cash from within the existing health budget, raising the prospect of cuts to key services.