Ambulance workers’ annual earnings are down 18.2 per cent – and real terms cuts are set to continue.
GMB, the union for NHS staff, has once again criticised Jeremy Hunt’s ‘paltry’ pay offer as new figures reveal show that average NHS earnings fell sharply in real terms between 2010 and March 2018.
The NHS in England’s latest pay statistics, released today, show that average health workers’ earnings are down by £4,288 or 12 per cent since the public sector pay cap came into force, adjusted for RPI inflation.
Average NHS earnings have increased by 9.3 per cent between August 2010 and March 2018. This was significantly below inflation rates of 16.9 per cent (CPI) and 24 per cent (RPI) over the same period.
Ambulance workers are the worst affected group surveyed by GMB. Average annual earnings are down by 18.2 per cent compared to RPI, or £8,073 in real terms.
Average staff nurses’ annual earnings are down £5,000 or 14 per cent in real terms.
Jeremy Hunt’s pay offer would see the half of NHS staff at the top of their pay band receive only a 6.5% uplift over next 3 years.
With OBR predicting inflation increases of up to 9.6 per cent over the same time period – this is set to amount to a real terms pay cut over the next 3 years for dedicated NHS and Ambulance staff.
In total, 87 per cent of GMB members in the NHS recently voted to reject the pay offer.
GMB was the only one of the 14 NHS unions to reject the pay offer.
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: “These figures show what GMB members already knew – after years of real terms pay cuts, this deal is not good enough.
“Inadequate pay is driving experienced professionals out of the NHS, contributing to worsening services for patients.
“NHS staff have endured nearly ten years of wage freezes and caps.
“Does Jeremy Hunt think he can buy them off with a further three years real terms pay cuts?
“GMB have already given him their response – it’s a no from us.”
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