Unite members approve NHS pay deal in Wales

Members of a union representing nurses in Wales have voted to approve the government’s latest pay deal, but warned that reform to the entire structure of nurse pay is “long overdue”.

On Monday, the Welsh branch of Unite, which represents some nurses among other worker groups, closed its member consultation into a 5.5% pay increase from the Welsh Government to all Agenda for Change (AfC) contracted staff for 2024-25.

Nursing staff voted to accept the offer, but the union has said more must be done to improve the system by which NHS workers are paid.

“Government needs to understand the foundations of this acceptance are fragile"

Sharon Graham

This pay deal, which is being implemented regardless of union approval, was announced in September and mirrored that offered by the central UK Government for AfC staff in England.

It was supposed to be in place for the start of the 2024-25 financial year, and as such all AfC staff will receive back pay to April 2024.

As well as the 5.5% pay increase, the Welsh Government agreed “in principle” to adding more pay points for AfC bands 8a and above.

Announcing its consultation results, Unite called on governments to work on "long overdue" reforms to the AfC system as a whole.

Daryl Williams, Unite Wales lead offer for health, said it was "essential" that next year's pay offer was tabled on time.

"Trust cannot be broken on this point which is crucial to the lowest paid in the NHS," he said.

UK secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting recently initiated the 2025-26 AfC pay round. However, he said it was "unlikely" a pay offer would arrive in time for the start of the financial year.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: “NHS staff are the bedrock of our health care system - without their dedication, hard work and commitment the NHS simply doesn’t exist.

“Government needs to understand the foundations of this acceptance are fragile and there is still much to be done to restore the NHS workforces’ confidence in politicians.”

Earlier this month the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Wales announced that its members had narrowly voted to reject the deal, dubbing it “unacceptable”.

Meanwhile, ballots by the Welsh branches of Unison and the Royal College of Nursing are due on 28 October and 25 October, respectively.

A Welsh Government spokesperson, following Unite's announcement, added: "We accepted the independent pay review body recommendations for NHS Agenda for Change staff in full and continue to work with the UK Government on how to progress the recommendation on Agenda for Change pay structures.

“We are currently considering our remit to the independent pay review body for pay awards in 25/26.”