UK nurses ready to strike till Christmas: union chief

Nurses in Britain are ready to strike till Christmas if they can not attain a take care of the federal government on pay, the chief of the nation’s important nursing union stated on Sunday.

Members of the Royal School of Nursing (RCN) would strike on the finish of April and the start of Could earlier than holding a poll on persevering with the strike to the top of the 12 months, union chief Pat Cullen stated.

“If that poll is profitable it’s going to imply additional strike motion proper up till Christmas,” Cullen instructed the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program.

Members of the union rejected a authorities pay supply on Friday and instantly introduced an escalation in strike motion.

Hopes had been excessive that nurses in England would settle for the 5 % pay supply brokered by the RCN and the federal government in March.

However after placing the supply to its members, the RCN stated 54 % turned it down.

RCN members will stroll out for 48 hours from 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on April 30, with the motion prolonged to workers in emergency departments, intensive care and most cancers care models for the primary time.

The refusal is a setback for the federal government, which had hoped for an finish to the crippling well being sector strike that has seen 1000’s of operations and appointments canceled.

‘Vastly disappointing’

Hospital docs under advisor stage have this week been on a four-day strike demanding higher pay and situations.

Cullen stated she had obtained a letter from Well being Secretary Steve Barclay on Sunday morning after requesting talks with him in regards to the pay supply final week.

RCN members walked out for the primary time within the union’s 108-year historical past late final 12 months, becoming a member of a wave of private and non-private sector employees calling for pay rises as inflation soared.

The federal government stated the RCN rejection of the pay supply was “vastly disappointing” and stated it was “honest and beneficiant”.

In addition to a 5 % pay enhance within the subsequent monetary 12 months, the supply included a one-off bonus value at the very least £1,250 ($1,510) per particular person.

Two different unions representing healthcare employees have but to announce the outcomes of their poll on the supply.

Healthcare bosses say additional strikes would have an effect on decreasing already prolonged ready lists for therapy, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to cut back.

© 2023 AFP