Agreement on Pay Parity for Allied Health Professionals

HM Government of Gibraltar and Unite the Union jointly welcome the signing of an agreement on the parity principle for Allied Health Professionals employed by the Gibraltar Health Authority.

The agreement aligns the pay of Allied Health Professionals with the equivalent United Kingdom National Health Service Agenda for Change pay scales. It takes effect from 1 April 2025 and covers staff across pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, radiography, speech and language therapy, optometry and orthoptics.

Under the agreement, parity rates for the majority of grades will be applied and backdated to the 1st April 2025. A number of senior grades will move to parity on completion of the relevant assimilation process (namely Agenda for Change), and in any event no later than 31 July 2027.

Both parties recognise the professionalism and commitment of Allied Health Professionals and the essential role they play in the delivery of care across the GHA. The agreement provides these staff with fair and comparable remuneration, and gives the Authority a clear and settled basis on which to plan for the future.

The agreement was endorsed by Allied Health Professionals through a ballot held by Unite the Union, on a 69% turnout, 95.9% voted in favour of the implementation and 4.1% against.

The agreement is entered into as a full and final settlement of the parity claim. Both parties are committed to its faithful implementation and to continued constructive engagement through the established industrial relations framework.

The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, said:

“I want to thank the Allied Health Professionals for their patience throughout this process. It has been a lengthy one, but this was a matter we needed to get right, and I believe we have. The Government has been absolutely committed to the principle of parity from the outset. That commitment is why this deal is backdated to 1 April 2025, so that these dedicated staff receive what is fairly owed to them. I am grateful to Unite’s members for the constructive spirit in which this settlement was reached.”

Stuart Davies, National Officer for Unite Gibraltar said:

“This was not an easy negotiation; however, we are delighted to have finally reached agreement and to have taken the first and significant step towards establishing parity within the Allied Health Professional grades. I would like to recognise the constructive manner in which HMGOG and the GHA approached these sometimes challenging negotiations, plus to thank our Allied Health Professional shop stewards and members for their energy, input, knowledge and support throughout this process. That they are and will be properly recognised on a parity basis compared to their UK counterparts is very positive.”