NHS unions reject pay freeze plans to boost employee motivation

Date: 17/01/2011

Health Service Unions have rejected pay freeze proposals which aimed to avoid job losses and improve employee motivation.

NHS chiefs previously signed a letter supporting the deal which proposed no compulsory redundancies in return for a freeze on pay.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) rejected the plan with Unison today, with the RCN describing the plans as "illogical" and "an attack upon hard-working nurses".

The BMA said it had experienced an overwhelming response against signing up to the plans.

But NHS Employers said the offer was "still on the table".

"We believe that local discussions currently taking place will inform staff more fully of the significant challenges ahead, and of the consequences for jobs in local communities," a spokesman said.

"Employers have told us they want to do everything possible to avoid redundancies, and this deal provides a great opportunity to protect jobs for NHS staff and provide continuity of care for patients."

Recently the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) predicted 200,000 job losses this year, with 120,000 in the public sector.

Posted by Jo Morgan

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