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3 Introduction Following our industrial action and long term pay campaign the Government entered into negotiations with the RCM and other NHS Trade Unions. After a week of intense and challenging talks we reached an offer that was the best offer we could achieve by negotiations and agreed to suspend our industrial action pending consultation with RCM members. We believe that we have negotiated a good deal in challenging circumstances that has been improved significantly following RCM members industrial action and campaigning. It is our view that this is the best deal that can be achieved by negotiations and we are recommending that you accept the offer. The consultation will start on Wednesday 4th February and close midday on Wednesday 25th February. You can read more generally about the offer in the Pay Consultation Member Briefing; this briefing document deals specifically with the implications for members in Bands 8 and 9. This briefing should give you all the information you need but if you have any other questions please contact: your local Workplace Rep; ring ; or paycampaign@rcm.org.uk

4 What are the implications for RCM members who are in Bands 8 and 9? The RCM estimates 1 that currently about 2.3% of the maternity workforce are in Bands 8 and 9. The offer is: a 1% consolidated pay rise for all staff up to the pay point 42 from April 2015; a one year increment freeze in 2015/16 for staff on pay point 34 (second point on Band 8A) and above (to end April 2016); and the Government reaffirms its commitment to the NHS Pay Review Body and the PRB will continue to make future recommendations on pay uplift for NHS staff in relation to 2016/2017 and thereafter. The table overleaf shows the Band 8 and 9 sections of the pay scales in England as they were in April The column on the right hand side describes what is the offer for each of the pay points within pay Bands 8 and 9. 1 Our figures are based on returns to our annual HOMs survey, which is UK wide and asks for whole time equivalent figures by pay band.

5 Band 8 and 9 Pay Scales PAY Point Band 8 Range A Range B Range C Range D Band 9 The pay offer 33 39,239 1% consolidated payment 34 40,558 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 35 42,190 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 36 43,822 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 37 45,707 45,707 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 38 47,088 47,088 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 39 49,473 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 40 52,235 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 41 54,998 54,998 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 42 56,504 56,504 1% consolidated payment but freeze on increment for 1 year 43 59,016 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 44 61,779 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 45 65,922 65,922 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 46 67,805 67,805 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 47 70,631 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 48 74,084 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 49 77,850 77,850 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 50 81,618 81,618 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 51 85,535 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 52 89,640 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 53 93,944 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year 54 98,453 No uplift and freeze on increment for 1 year What were we campaigning for? On Thursday 13th March 2014 the Government announced that in England only staff that are at the top of their pay band would receive a non-consolidated 1% pay uplift for 2014/15 and staff who are receiving increments would not get the 1% pay uplift and would only receive their increment. The Government have also said that they will take the same approach for 2015/16 in England. They have said that because the announcement is for two years they will not ask the NHS Pay Review Body to report in Employers in England then implemented the Government s proposals so also rejected the NHS Pay Review Body s recommendations. This was a fundamental attack on the NHS pay structure and NHS staff because: Non-consolidated (one-off) awards are essentially a move towards a bonus style pay structure with uplifts that are only temporary and this moves the NHS closer to performance related pay; This is a very clear attack on the NHS Pay Review Body, the Government have put constraints on them since 2010 but this is the first time they have rejected their recommendations and have stood down the Pay Review Body for next year; and Staff who are demoralised cannot deliver the quality of care that NHS users, including women and babies, deserve. Investing in staff is an investment in better care. We were campaigning for: Payment of the 1% uplift for all staff, as recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body; An above inflation pay rise for ; A commitment to future pay rises that will restore the value of NHS pay.

6 Why are the RCM recommending that this is the best that can be achieved by negotiations? It is our view that this is the best deal that can be achieved by negotiations and we are recommending that you accept the offer. Best that can be achieved by negotiations means that we have pushed as far as we can by negotiations and the Government have made their final offer. The only potential way of improving the offer would involve a sustained period of industrial action that would have to increase the pressure on the Government so much that they are forced back to the negotiating table. There would be no guarantee that this would be successful and would be dependent on a drastic escalation of our industrial action and on the other unions also escalating their action. Additionally, if there was a rejection of this offer there is no guarantee that we could go back and accept it at a later date if our action was not proving successful. We understand that some NHS staff on Bands 8 and 9 will be disappointed by some aspects of the offer. We fought hard for all RCM members and we got as much as we could get in extremely challenging circumstances. We tried very hard to get a 1% consolidated increase for all Agenda for Change staff but the Government would not move on this. The Government originally wanted a complete pay freeze (a freeze on increments and no uplift) to all those above pay point 34 (Band 7) but the RCM and others negotiated that the 1% consolidated increase to be paid to all staff up to pay point 42 (Bands 8a and 8b). Unfortunately, the Government refused to move any further. For those at the top of Band 8a and the top of Band 8b who would have got a 1% non-consolidated increase this offer represents an improvement as the 1% is now consolidated. This means that the 1% uplift will be added to unsocial hours payments; high cost area supplements and pension. We were campaigning for an above inflation pay offer and the most recent figures for inflation in December 2014 was 0.5%. So, the staff on pay point 42 or below will receive a 1% consolidated increase which is an above inflation rise. It is important to note that the freeze to increments above pay point 34 and no uplift for those above pay point 42 is for one year only. As we have managed to secure the commitment to the NHS Pay Review Body for 2016/17 they will be able to independently recommend an uplift for NHS staff for 2016 and thereafter. The commitment to the NHS Pay Review Body is on of the most important aspects of the offer. The Government will agree that the PRB will continue to make future recommendations on pay uplift for NHS staff in relation to 2016/2017 and thereafter. This is very important as the independence of the NHSPRB is a fundamental part of the NHS pay structure and is vital to ensuring fairness. It is also essential in ensuring that NHS pay is free from political interference and that NHS Trade Unions get equal opportunity (equal to Government and employers) to represent NHS staff. Finally, we do understand that RCM members on Bands 8 and 9 may be disappointed by some aspects of the offer. We have improved the offer for the majority of NHS staff. We pushed hard in the negotiations and tried to get the 1% consolidated increase for all staff and no incremental freeze; however the Government would not change their mind and would only move for staff on the lower pay bands. The pay offer is a whole package and to be able to get a settlement to the dispute RCM members are asked to accept or reject the offer in its entirety.

7 How will I be consulted? The pay consultation will be conducted online and will be start on Wednesday 4th February. You will be able to respond to the consultation by clicking on the link in the . The link is individual for you and cannot be used by another member. Therefore, you will only be able to vote using your individual link. You will be asked one question: are you prepared to accept the pay offer?. You will be asked to either accept or reject the offer. The RCM is recommending that members accept the offer as the best that can be achieved by negotiations. Please make sure you vote and vote to accept the offer. We fought hard to achieve this offer and make our voices heard. If you have not received an you need to ring or paycampaign@rcm.org.uk

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