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Should nurses go back on strike while pay talks continue?

A nurse-led petition is urging the RCN to restart walkouts in England because there is ‘no pressure on the government to give us a better pay offer’
Photo of nurses on the picket line at St Thomas' Hospital in London

A nurse-led petition is urging the RCN to restart walkouts in England because there is ‘no pressure on the government to give us a better pay offer’

Photo of nurses on the picket line at St Thomas' Hospital in London
Nurses on the picket line at St Thomas' Hospital in London last month. Picture: Alamy

The RCN has come under increased pressure to restart strike action as nurses fear valuable time is being lost while pay talks continue.

A petition urging the college to restart walkouts in England and coordinate them ‘as much as possible’ with other unions and workers, including junior doctors who staged a three-day strike this week, has reportedly been signed by hundreds of nurses.

Petition nurse fears government will ‘inevitably make a below-inflation pay offer’

The petition, started by emergency department nurse Mark Boothroyd, also calls on the RCN to organise a ‘national demonstration’ in support of strikes, and commit to re-balloting all NHS trusts for further industrial action when the current mandate for industrial action expires in May.

Mr Boothroyd accused the RCN of being ‘disrespectful’ by calling off strikes, adding: ‘There is no pressure on the government to give us a better offer, and we are losing valuable time while the government will inevitably make a below-inflation offer to the RCN.

‘We did not go on strike for a below-inflation pay rise. A below-inflation offer does not solve any of the issues we face, and would force us to strike again next year for another pay rise.’

Talks continue as nurses await better pay deal

There has been no indication of the pay award that could be offered to nurses following talks with the government and health unions. Talks have been underway since 22 February and continue this week.

Industrial action has plagued the NHS for months as nurses and other healthcare workers battle for fair pay to boost staff numbers and protect patient safety.

Many health unions, including the RCN, paused strike action in England after the government finally agreed to come to the table for pay discussions.

Picture: Alamy

Government promises additional investment

As part of reassurances to unions joining the talks, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed there would be additional investment in pay for staff on Agenda for Change contracts both this year (2022-23) and next (2023-24).

NHS staff in England were previously offered a 4% rise this year, with a 3.5% increase earmarked for next year, but unions will be hoping to come out of discussions with considerably more.

RCN will seek views of members on final pay offer

An RCN spokesperson said: ‘Members have led this campaign from the very beginning and only members can take the decisions about where it goes next.

‘We spent months asking for talks with government and we are now in the room, alongside other unions. We will put the government's final offer to members – it is only right that every member has a say on a pay award that affects them.’


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