News

Nurses’ strikes suspended in Wales as ministers make new offer

Union members will be asked to vote on fresh offer as their leader calls on prime minister Rishi Sunak to follow suit and get nurses’ pay talks going in England
Striking nurses hold banners calling for better pay

Union members will be asked to vote on fresh offer as their leader calls on prime minister Rishi Sunak to follow suit and get nurses’ pay talks going in England

Striking nurses hold banners calling for better pay
Strikers on a picket line in Cardiff in December 2022 Picture: Alamy

Nurses in Wales have pulled back from strikes next week following a fresh pay offer.

The RCN has cancelled planned strike action there on 6 and 7 February after negotiations with unions resulted in a 3% NHS pay offer for 2022-23.

Members will vote on the offer within days, the college confirmed. The offer is on top of the 4% already on the table. A Welsh government spokesperson said the new offer included 1.5% as consolidated pay.

Start pay talks in England now, RCN tells prime minister

The development leaves the Westminster government alone in refusing to discuss pay, the RCN said.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen promised to keep the college’s promise to call off strike action in England if ministers were willing to negotiate.

‘If the other governments can negotiate and find more money for this year, the prime minister can do the same. Rishi Sunak has no place left to hide. He can still turn things around before Monday – start talking seriously and the strikes are off.’

Nurses’ strikes in Scotland already suspended

Strikes in Scotland were postponed last month after fresh talks over pay and working conditions between the RCN and Holyrood government.

Nurses were preparing to walk out after rejecting a revised 8% pay offer, but the Scottish government put forward a new proposal to accelerate the 2023-24 pay offer. It also agreed to a one-off payment for nurses and to match NHS pay in England next year if a higher rate were agreed there. The Welsh government has agreed to the same conditions.

Nurses at 73 trusts in England are preparing to stand on picket lines next Monday and Tuesday, with ambulance workers also expected to join protests on 6 February.


In other news

Jobs