I don't post about politics as much as I used to, because I'm tired, and frankly I'm happy keeping this as an account much more focused on sandwiches, woods, and music. But seeing as relevant issues are in the news, I thought I'd mention this as most people won't have a clue.
Remember the big pay deal news stories last year, and the strikes by paramedics, nurses, midwives, all sorts of non-clinical staff (like me)? Not the one with the doctors, that's separate and ongoing (and all solidarity with them).
I got increasingly annoyed during that time last year with some people - commentators, not affected staff, including some claimed experts - who believed that it was about a permanent, long-term deal. It wasn't. It was negotiation on a one-year agreement for 2023/24.
That year ended on Easter Sunday. This month's pay should be the pay negotiated for 2024/25. Does anyone want to guess how far along negotiations are for the 2024/25 pay deal?
Yes, that's right. 0%. The Department of Health and Social Care haven't engaged with the unions at all. What should've been negotiations over the past winter didn't happen. The Health Secretary with whom the last lot of negotiations were done is, of course, now reshuffled into a different department. It's hard to believe that the Government currently have any desire to address this before the election - and if that election is in October or November, that's a long delay.
All of which means the likelihood of further strikes this summer is very high. My union have already polled us on taking action (the first step towards a formal strike ballot), and I imagine other unions have done the same.
I wanted to explain this in advance, so that more people will understand the strike when it happens, and not be so unaware of what it actually is we'll be striking for.
And also, perhaps, to better understand why so many NHS staff find themselves tempted away, either by private providers or out of healthcare completely.
