Faced with a 12 hour strike the government approached the unions to make an offer in return for the strike being called off.  This shows the power the two previous strikes had to force the government to talk when it previously had refused and imposed a pay freeze for most NHS staff for this year and next.  Members will now be balloted as to whether they accept or reject the government's offer.

Intitial reactions from branch members has been to question the union leadership calling off the action.  Many report the mood for the strike being good and believe the planned strikes could have forced the government to make greater concessions. 

The branch is in the process of organising a branch meeting to allow members to discuss the offer and next steps in the pay campaign, including whether to launch a campaign for a cost of living supplement for all staff living in Oxfordshire.

The pay offer ony offers a very small rises for the lowest paid - at the expense of highest pay bands (detail at end with what the new payscale would look like if accepted).  However there is nothing to address the substantial losses staff have suffered bearing the brunt of government imposed austerity. For the majority of staff there is still no pay rise this year, and for those who got the 1% consolidated, they will lose it at the end of the year, so in effect their pay will be the same next year if this deal is accepted - this will affect around 30% of NHS staff.  For most staff the what is on offer the equivalent of a paltry 1% increase for the 2 years 2104-2016.  The offer also serves the purpose of dividing the opposition to the government policy of keeping NHS wages depressed.

Also there are serious concerns about what is going to happen with the government proposals for cuts in unsocial hours and incremental pay next year.  These are not explicitly referred  to in the offer, but there is a requirement for the unions  to sign up to "reform" of Agenda for Change, with a view to introducing changes in 2016.  If the idea of reforms is to reorganise terms, including introducing more extended hours, without additional funds, as is the case with this offer, then we can expect a demand to cut unsocial hours.

The full text of the letter from Secretary of State for Health to the unions can be seen here. 

The key points of the offer to NHS staff, except ambulance staff who have other issues addressed, are below.

• Abolition of the bottom point of Agenda for Change and increasing pay point 2 to £15,100. This means an increase of 5.6% for staff on point one and 3.1% for staff on pay point 2:
• 1% consolidated pay rise for all staff up to point 42 from April 2015:
• A further consolidated pay rise of an additional 200 pounds for staff on pay point 3-8. This means staff on these pay points will receive an increase between 2.1% and 2.3%:
• An increment freeze in 2015/16 for staff on pay point 34 and above for one year only:
• Urgent talks to take place with a review to the proposed redundancy changes being implemented from 1^st April 2015, including a floor for calculation of redundancy payments of £23,000 and a ceiling for calculation of £80,000 with an end to employer top up for early retirement on grounds of redundancy.

Current and proposed payscale.