Nurses across the city region will return to the picket line next month after rejecting the Government’s latest pay offer.
A fresh round of strikes have been pencilled in for the coming May Bank Holiday weekend with workers walking out for 48 hours from 8pm on April 30. The escalation comes after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced yesterday that its members had rejected the latest pay offer tabled by the Government.
This will be the first time staff in emergency departments, intensive care units and cancer care are set to take industrial action. The RCN’s most recent round of strikes had been paused in February following the resumption of talks over pay.
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Failure to break the deadlock in the standoff which started in December 2022 means that more appointments will have to be cancelled at the end of this month with disruption expected following the Bank Holiday. The announcement comes after junior doctors finished their 96-hour strike in a separate dispute over pay and conditions.
The escalation of action by the RCN follows the majority of members rejecting the latest offer of a 5% pay rise and a cash payment for last year. 54% of members voted to reject the deal with a 61% turnout on the vote.
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen has written to Health Secretary Steve Barclay to seek urgent re-opening of talks with the Government. The union boss said there needs to be an “increase” on what has already been offered.
She said: “What has been offered to date is simply not enough. The Government needs to increase what has already been offered and we will be highly critical of any move to reduce it. After a historic vote to strike, our members expect a historic pay award.”
Mr Barclay said it was “hugely disappointing” that the RCN had rejected the pay deal. He added that the outcome was “hugely concerning.”
He said: “Their decision to escalate strike action with no exemptions, based on a vote from a minority of members, is also hugely concerning.
“The NHS staff council, which recommended this offer, covers a number of trade unions who are continuing to vote, and I hope this offer secures the support of a majority of members.”
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