Workers employed by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have accepted improved pay, holidays, and parental leave after taking part in seven days of strike action earlier this year.
Last year, the organisation, which is the membership body for paediatricians in the UK and around the world and plays a role in postgraduate medical education, professional standards, research and policy, offered a 2.5% pay increase. This has been increased to 5%, alongside bonuses of between £1,000 and £2,000. Employees have also secured an improved deal of 5% from September, bringing the total increase to 10%.
Unite, which represented the employees, additionally negotiated an end to a two-tier annual leave entitlement, resulting in more annual leave days for half the workforce backdated to January. The college has also increased maternity pay to six months and doubled paternity pay.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Unite members at the college argued that management could afford to pay workers more. There’s no doubt that strike action secured better pay, more holidays and much improved family-friendly policies.”
Matt Freeman, regional officer at Unite added: “The workers have secured significant improvements to their jobs, pay and conditions. They’re also empowered. They took matters into their own hands when they were being treated unfairly and they won.”
The RCPCH has been contacted for comment prior to publication. It currently offers employees a group personal pension plan with up to 10% employer contribution, an interest-free season ticket loan, flexible working, an employee assistance programme that includes resources, support and guidance, and 24/7 counselling, health vouchers for eye care and flu vaccinations, in-house mental health first aiders, health and wellbeing initiatives, a staff discount and cashback service called RCPCH Rewards, and a cycle to work scheme.
