The pay rise improves on an original offer of 1% and will apply to around 60 former BT employees who were transferred in 2015 under TUPE regulations into the national information and technology partner to the health and care system.

The offer will be backdated from June 2019 and will also apply for the year 2020-21.

Prospect full-time negotiator Sue Bucksey praised the hard work of Prospect branch chair Mike Thompson and three other lay reps – Mark Pendlebury, Stuart Baskerville and John Plowman – during negotiations with NHS Digital Finance and HR.

She said: “It was a joint effort and I thank them for their resilience and perseverance helping achieve this positive outcome for members.”

Mike Thompson said: “Most of the people who came across from BT in 2015 were Prospect members and the new employer has continued to recognise the union.

“We are still under the separate terms and conditions we retained after the TUPE transfer. So it is very helpful that we can still call on Prospect to support us and reflect our unique circumstances. It has given us a collective capability.

“Members originally rejected a 1% offer and we welcome the employer’s movement on this.” More than 90% have accepted the revised offer.

NHS Digital, formerly the Health and Social Care Information Centre, has offices in Leeds, Southport, London and Exeter, employing around 3,200 people. Most are represented by other unions, including Unison.

Many former BT people are based in Leeds, with some homeworkers. Thompson pointed out that despite different terms Prospect reps also now attend the joint negotiating council committee with other unions.

“This means we have an equal chance to influence policies around working conditions, for example office moves,” he said.

“Our experience sends a strong message to anyone facing TUPE transfer to join the union and ensure it is recognised by the receiving organisation.”

Photo shows BT Digital reps Mark Pendlebury, Stuart Baskerville and John Plowman with  Sue Bucksey, Prospect negotiator.