Members of Britain's largest health union have voted overwhelmingly to accept the Government's latest pay offer.
Unison, representing more than half a million health workers, announced that nearly two-thirds of those who had voted accepted the pay deal. They join the Royal College of Nursing, where 92% of the membership voted in favour of the proposals.
The deal, worth around 8% over three years, would see health workers receive an increase of 2.7% from April and further rises of 2.4% and 2.25% in 2009/10 and 2010/11 respectively. The increase would bring the starting salary for a newly qualified nurse to £20,225 this year.
Several smaller unions, including the Royal College of Midwives, the GMB and Unite, have rejected the pay deal, arguing that it amounts to a pay cut when the price of living is taken into account.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said it had recommended the proposed deal to members because it was fair, balanced and "the best deal in the public sector".
"We worked hard to negotiate this deal for our members and it's clear from their response they want us to accept it," he said.
"Some of our lowest paid members, health care assistants and newly qualified nurses will be better off with a pay deal that is worth between 14% and 16%," he added.
Health secretary Alan Johnson said the pay deal had been constructed with "skilled and professional union negotiators".
He added: "The NHS and patients will benefit from pay stability over the next three years that will allow everyone in the service to concentrate on improving patient care even further."
Unison has signalled that it will not hesitate in renegotiating the deal if the rate of inflation continues to rise.
Unison, representing more than half a million health workers, announced that nearly two-thirds of those who had voted accepted the pay deal. They join the Royal College of Nursing, where 92% of the membership voted in favour of the proposals.
The deal, worth around 8% over three years, would see health workers receive an increase of 2.7% from April and further rises of 2.4% and 2.25% in 2009/10 and 2010/11 respectively. The increase would bring the starting salary for a newly qualified nurse to £20,225 this year.
Several smaller unions, including the Royal College of Midwives, the GMB and Unite, have rejected the pay deal, arguing that it amounts to a pay cut when the price of living is taken into account.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said it had recommended the proposed deal to members because it was fair, balanced and "the best deal in the public sector".
"We worked hard to negotiate this deal for our members and it's clear from their response they want us to accept it," he said.
"Some of our lowest paid members, health care assistants and newly qualified nurses will be better off with a pay deal that is worth between 14% and 16%," he added.
Health secretary Alan Johnson said the pay deal had been constructed with "skilled and professional union negotiators".
He added: "The NHS and patients will benefit from pay stability over the next three years that will allow everyone in the service to concentrate on improving patient care even further."
Unison has signalled that it will not hesitate in renegotiating the deal if the rate of inflation continues to rise.
