Not sure the NHS deal is that special. After a decade of zero or below-inflation pay rises the government has managed to lock-in 3 more years of below-inflation increases. Given the propensity for NHS workers to strike whilst garnering public support this agreement is only a win for HM Treasury.
It does not bode well for the AFPRB and the backdating of pay, charges and pension codes does little to balance the pull vs push factors. Makes a mockery of the first paragraph of the Armed Forces Covernant. I guess ‘binding in every sense’ has a more relaxed meaning these days.