Unite members approve 5.5% NHS pay rise in Wales

Unite members working in NHS Wales have voted to approve the Welsh government’s proposal of a 5.5% pay increase for 2024/25.

The decision comes after extensive negotiations, but the union has made it clear that this pay rise is only the beginning of a broader campaign for pay restoration in the health sector.

The pay deal, backed by Unite members, will see NHS workers in Wales benefit from the increase, but the union emphasised that more is needed to restore staff pay after years of austerity measures and below-inflation rises.

Sharon Graham, Unite’s General Secretary, stressed the importance of this pay rise as a starting point.

“NHS staff are the bedrock of our health care system—without their dedication, hard work, and commitment, the NHS simply doesn’t exist,” Graham said.

“Government needs to understand that the foundations of this acceptance are fragile, and there is still much to be done to restore the NHS workforce’s confidence in politicians.”

Urgent Call for Pay Restoration

Unite has been clear in its message that achieving full pay restoration for NHS staff is the ultimate goal.

The union is pushing for sustained above-inflation pay increases in future negotiations to close the pay gap caused by years of stagnation.

Daryl Williams, Unite Wales’ lead officer for health, echoed these sentiments, saying, “The commitment for pay increases being paid on time in 2025 is very welcome. It is essential that this happens—trust cannot be broken on this point, which is crucial to the lowest paid in the NHS.”

Agenda for Change Reform Needed

In addition to pay increases, Unite is urging swift action on reforms to the Agenda for Change pay structure, which governs the pay scales for NHS workers. Both the UK and Welsh governments have committed to a funded mandate to address ongoing concerns within this framework, but Unite insists that work on these reforms must begin immediately.

“The pay increase is a positive step, but we cannot lose sight of the larger issues at hand,” Williams said. “We will continue to hold the Welsh government to its 2023 commitment of pay restoration for NHS staff.”

The approval of this pay deal marks a victory for Unite members, but the union remains vigilant in its broader fight for fair pay and structural reform in the NHS.