A total of 99.9% of the 63,000 non-medical staff have now been transferred to the Agenda for Change rates of pay.
Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: “I want to pay tribute to all parties involved in this lengthy process.”
“Earlier this year I was asked by the trade unions to review my decision to set HSC employers the target of 31 March 2008 to have all staff on Agenda for Change rates of pay. After careful consideration, and in the interest of maintaining partnership working between the employers and the trade unions, I agreed to move this deadline to 30 June 2008.
“This extension allowed the partnership process to be applied to all non-medical posts in Health and Social Care and I am pleased to say that 99.9% of staff are now on the new rates of pay.”
In order to implement the Agenda for Change rates of pay, trade unions, staff and employers have been involved in a partnership process since October 2004 to ensure that all non-medical staff are rewarded on the basis of the job they do.
The minister continued: “While this is excellent news for the vast majority of staff I expect all parties to work closely to ensure that issues relating to the grading of the remaining 200 staff are dealt with as quickly and fairly as possible to avoid any unnecessary anxiety for the staff involved.
“I also expect the Health and Social Care employers to do their utmost to have any outstanding back payments made to staff at the earliest opportunity.”
Notes to Editors:
- Agenda for Change (AfC) is a national agreement on pay modernisation within the HSC. It involves the moving of staff from different occupation groups into common pay bands with harmonised terms and conditions of service. The policy ensures that staff are rewarded more fairly and objectively on the basis of their responsibilities and the skills and knowledge they bring to the job. It is important that the implementation process is followed through and that the right grade and rate of pay is assigned to individual jobs. Over 60,000 health and social care staff have been moved to the AfC rates. This process of implementation is being carried out in partnership with the main health service trade unions at local level. Staff will receive any increases due to them and these will be backdated to the implementation date of 1 October 2004.
- The 200 or so staff that have not yet been moved to the Agenda for Change rates of pay will most likely be subjected to a process of job evaluation. This process of job evaluation was never intended to be completed before the 30 June deadline. Health and Social Care employers will make their best endeavours to have this process completed as soon as possible within the agreed process.
- Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager Number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
