Members on Agenda for Change contracts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will soon be consulted on a pay award of 3.3%, which the government shared with health unions this week.
The BDA’s new Director of Trade Union and Employment Relations Sonila Ellahi, attended a meeting with other health unions to hear from David Nuttall, Deputy Director of NHS Pay and Industrial Relations at the Department for Health and Social Care, as he confirmed he’s accepted the recommendations made by the Pay Review Body.
The BDA pulled out of the pay review body process last year, alongside other unions, due to unnecessary delays and it not being fit for purpose.
Sonila Ellahi, who joins the BDA from the National Education Union says, “Whilst we welcome any improvement in pay for our members, we’re once again seeing a real-terms pay cut for the dietetic workforce. It highlights why the Pay Review Body recommendations are completely out of touch with reality.
“We have had some positive news however, in that the government has committed to working with unions on further reforms, following a recommendation from the Pay Review Body. I’m looking forward to working with my counterparts at other health unions to ensure a fair deal for our members and ensuring better working conditions and benefits.”
Vicki Bennett, Chair of the BDA’s Trade Union National Executive Committee adds, “We pulled out of the Pay Review Body process as we wanted to pursue collective bargaining as a fairer process to setting pay. It is disappointing that the government has chosen to accept the recommendations despite the lack of evidence and input from numerous health unions.
“Once again, the dietetic workforce has been undervalued by the government, who continue to fail in its delivery of a real-term pay rise. This comes at a time when many of our members are facing burnout and high vacancy rates which are eroding the foundations of safe staffing, putting services under more pressure.”
Over the coming weeks we will be working closely with our members and executive committee before we decide on next steps.
The NHS Pay Review Body recommendations are applicable to England, Wales and Northern Ireland with each administration making their own decisions on implementation.
Pay in Scotland is determined by collective bargaining between the Scottish Government and recognised health unions and we’ll update members when we know more.
