Nursing union orchestrating chaotic NHS-wide strikes tells Government it might ‘meet midway’

The union behind the nurses’ strike is prepared to satisfy the Government ‘midway’ and settle for a ten per cent pay provide, its chief has prompt.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which coordinated two days of strike motion in England in December and is plotting two extra walkouts this month, initially known as for a 19 per cent rise.

Ministers labelled the determine ‘unaffordable’ and warned it might value round £10billion a 12 months, or six per cent, of the NHS whole £152billion annual funds.

But Pat Cullen, the RCN’s common secretary mentioned the determine was merely a ‘place to begin’ and known as for the Government to do the ‘respectable’ factor and meet her within the center. 

She informed Times Radio’s Past Imperfect podcast: ‘There is a rhetoric on the market that claims the Royal College of Nursing is unrealistic, it is on the lookout for one thing that is completely unachievable, it is on the lookout for 19 per cent.

‘Now, I may sit right here all day and inform you nurses’ pay has dropped by 20 per cent over the past decade.

‘Do I imagine these nurses are entitled (to 19 per cent)?

‘Absolutely, I imagine they’re entitled to 19 per cent.

‘But we additionally perceive the financial local weather that we’re working in.

‘And what I might say to (Health Secretary) Steve Barclay and to the Prime Minister is get right into a room and meet me midway right here and do the respectable factor for these nurses.’

The row is over pay and dealing situations, with the RCN demanding a pay rise 5 per cent above RPI inflation — equal to a 19 per cent increase. 

The union says the uplift is required to sort out a decade of pay erosion. However, it has constantly indicated that it might settle for a decrease provide.

A 19 per cent rise would see the typical nurses’ wage rise from £37,000 to £44,050, whereas a ten per cent rise would see it enhance to £40,700.

The Government has to this point refused to barter on salaries, sticking with its provide of round 4 per cent, or £1,400, which is backed by its impartial NHS Pay Review Body.

But the union says the system, which was arrange underneath Margaret Thatcher, is ‘outdated’ and ‘doesn’t work for nurses’.

Up to 100,000 nurses took to picket strains on December 15 and 20 within the first nationwide strike within the RCN’s 106-year historical past.

Almost 30,000 operations and appointments had been cancelled consequently throughout the nation within the first nationwide strike within the RCN’s 106-year historical past.

The RCN staffed chemotherapy, emergency most cancers providers, dialysis, important care models, neonatal and paediatric intensive care. 

Some areas of psychological well being and studying incapacity and autism providers had been additionally exempt, whereas trusts had been informed they may request staffing for particular scientific wants.

In grownup A&E and pressing care, nurses labored Christmas Day-style rotas.

The RCN has mentioned its members will strike once more on January 18 and 19 until pay negotiations are opened.

‘I don’t want to extend this dispute, however the Prime Minister has left us with no alternative,’ Ms Cullen mentioned. 

Some Tory MPs have urged ministers to rethink their place in a bid to avert additional chaos and ask for the impartial panel to evaluation its recommendation, which was given earlier than inflation surged amid the battle in Ukraine.

But Mr Barclay has constantly refused to barter pay.

He has pinned the deal with the 2023/24 pay uplift, hinting that employees can ‘look ahead’ to subsequent 12 months’s evaluation. 

However, he has informed the pay evaluation physique to ‘have regard’ to the Government’s inflation goal when making its advice, which suggests nurses would solely get a two per cent rise.

The RCN January motion is ready to happen at extra NHS employers in England than the earlier strikes, rising from 44 to 55 trusts, in keeping with the RCN.

The union has additionally warned that strike motion may proceed over the subsequent six months until an settlement may be reached.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson mentioned: ‘The Health and Social Care Secretary desires to have an trustworthy dialog with the RCN about what’s reasonably priced in pay settlements for subsequent 12 months throughout these difficult occasions, and is eager to satisfy for discussions as quickly as attainable.

‘We have accepted the suggestions of the impartial NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over 1million NHS staff a pay rise of not less than £1,400 this 12 months. 

‘This is on high of a  per cent pay enhance final 12 months when public sector pay was frozen and wider Government assist with the price of dwelling.’

Ms Cullen’s interview with Past Imperfect is because of be performed on Times Radio at 9pm on Sunday and to be launched as a podcast as we speak. 

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