Nurses’ strikes paused as ‘intensive’ pay talks to go ahead
Posted 21 February 2023 - 18:06
Dramatic breakthrough will see RCN and Department of Health and Social Care meet tomorrow to discuss pay and productivity
Picture: Alamy
Nurses’ strikes in England have been paused after the RCN and government agreed to ‘intensive’ pay talks.
In a joint announcement this afternoon, the RCN and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed they will meet tomorrow to discuss pay and productivity.
‘The government and RCN have agreed to enter a process of intensive talks. Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the NHS and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom and the prime minister’s priority to halve inflation,’ the statement said.
Talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity-enhancing reforms
‘The talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity-enhancing reforms.
‘The health secretary will meet with the RCN on Wednesday to begin talks. The RCN will pause strike action during these talks.’
The RCN was planning a 48-hour walkout from 6am on Wednesday 1 March to 6am Friday 3 March across 120 NHS employers in England – a significant step up from the 73 trusts that faced strike action in February.
For the first time, staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services were due to walk out as the RCN scrapped previously agreed derogations.
Health leaders had expressed deep concern at the planned escalation, calling on the government to act.
NHS Employers pledge ‘everything in our power’ to support constructive outcome
Responding to the news, NHS Employers chief executive Danny Mortimer said: ‘It is a positive development that there will be substantive negotiations with the RCN. NHS Employers will do everything in our power to support a constructive outcome to the talks with the RCN, as well with other trade unions.’
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen has repeatedly called on the government to open formal negotiations on pay, promising to pause strikes if they did. Until now, the government has refused to enter negotiations.
The college has called for a pay rise for nurses of 5% above RPI inflation, but the government has repeatedly said the demand was unaffordable.
NHS Providers welcomes ‘glimmer of hope we all needed’
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said: ‘This is a very positive step forward after weeks of inaction. They will hope that similar discussions can take place with all other trade unions too.
‘There will of course be significant work for all the parties involved to do and NHS leaders, their teams and patients will hope that a way forward can be found which will bring an end to the unprecedented industrial action the NHS has faced in the last few months.’
NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley added: ‘Trust leaders will be breathing a sigh of relief that the government and the RCN are finally coming round the table to talk about pay, and that the imminent nurses strikes are now on hold.
‘Both sides being committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement is the glimmer of hope we all needed.
‘We eagerly await the outcome and hope that further disruption to services can be averted, allowing NHS staff to continue delivering high-quality care, bearing down on backlogs and meeting elective targets.’
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