Nurses’ strike in Wales: live news from the picket lines
Posted 06 June 2023 - 11:54
RCN members are staging a 12-hour walkout after rejecting the Welsh Government’s latest pay offer – we’ll bring you updates from around the country
Nurses in Wales have begun a fresh round of strikes today as their fight for fairer pay continues.
RCN members have been on picket lines since 7am in a 12-hour walkout and will do the same tomorrow after pay talks with the government did not recommence.
It comes after the majority of eligible RCN Wales members voted to reject the Welsh Government’s latest pay offer.
‘Nursing staff are looking for a fair settlement’
The college has called on Wales’ Labour minister for health and social services Eluned Morgan to urgently re-open pay talks, despite most health unions in the NHS Wales Partnership Forum voting to accept the deal.
Speaking ahead of the strikes today, RCN Wales director Helen Whyley said: ‘Nursing staff are looking for a fair settlement that shows the government values and understands their profession now and into the future. I would remind the minister that it is entirely in her gift.’
Pathway to the pay offer for NHS in Wales
The 5% deal was the final of a series of pay offers to staff on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts since the NHS Pay Review Body’s original 4% recommendation last year. They were initially offered a revised 3% pay rise on top of the 4% on the table. Half of the 3% was consolidated and the remaining 1.5% was a one-off payment.
But RCN Wales members who took part in the ballot rejected it by 53.2% to 46.7%, prompting the Welsh Government to reopen talks despite the majority of combined health union members in the NHS Wales Partnership Forum accepting the deal.
After several weeks of negotiations, the government offered a 5% consolidated increase for 2023-24, to take effect from April 2023, alongside a new, one-off ‘NHS recovery payment’ averaging 3% for all healthcare staff, including bank staff, for 2022-23.
Some exemptions to strike action
The college has agreed to several exemptions, including cancer care, critical care and some children’s services during this round of strikes.
Some services will be staffed on night shift levels, including emergency departments, and community and inpatient services. There will be no exemptions for outpatient services.
Government 'disappointed that strike action is continuing'
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: ‘While we recognise the strength of feeling among members, we are disappointed that strike action is continuing despite the collective decision to accept the Agenda for Change pay offer by the NHS Wales Partnership Forum.
‘We are working with the NHS, unions and partners to ensure life-saving and life-maintaining care is provided during the industrial action, patient safety is maintained and disruption is minimised.’
Members of RCN Wales will strike again on 12 and 13 July if negotiations are not reopened. A fresh ballot for a further six months of strike action will also take place from 3-31 July.
Kirsty an @RCNWales member & John her grandfather who is 98 and extremely proud of his granddaughter, have come in support of #RCNStrike #FairPayforNursing pic.twitter.com/HhHw59E37W
— Royal College of Nursing Wales (@RCNWales) June 6, 2023
RCN members on the picket line at Princess of Wales Hospital.@RCNWales @theRCN @CwmTafMorgannwg #fairpayfornursing pic.twitter.com/p8EBhkqPPG
— Nick Spiller (@spillerboy) June 6, 2023
Members support at Singeton Hospital @RCNWales @theRCN #FairPayforNursing #strike pic.twitter.com/a5EoPzAKZQ
— Judith Thomas (@Judiththomasrc2) June 6, 2023
#picketlinedogs at Ty Maeth @RCNWales HQ. 🐾
— Royal College of Nursing Wales (@RCNWales) June 6, 2023
#FairPayforNursing #RCNStrike pic.twitter.com/5VqkEALVye
RCN members: check if your personal details for ballot papers are up to date
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