
Following engagement between UNISON, other health unions and the Health Minister on the lack of funding to implement the Pay Review Body award of 5.5% on AfC pay bands for 2024/25, we secured commitments in December that pay parity would be maintained, with the pay award being applied in 2 stages.
UNISON has now received an update from the Health Minister, which confirms that following the Department of Health receiving additional funding in January, the AfC pay award will be backdated in the first stage to 1st May 2024. The Department has confirmed that 11 months backpay will now be included within March pay packets.
The Minister has committed that any additional funding found in 2024/25 will be used to move the date of the pay award towards 1st April 2024. The Minister has previously committed that if sufficient funding does not become available during 2024/25, any shortfall will be addressed at an early stage of the 2025/26 financial year.
We will continue to press the Department to secure all the funding required as soon as possible to meet the commitment that the 2024/25 pay award is from 1st April 2024.
UNISON will update members on further developments.