Wes Streeting: PM ‘completely absent’ from NHS pay dispute
The shadow health secretary urged Rishi Sunak to intervene to bring an end to the deadlock between the Government and unions.
The shadow health secretary urged Rishi Sunak to intervene to bring an end to the deadlock between the Government and unions.
Rishi Sunak said it was ‘obviously disappointing’ that nurses in England had rejected the Government’s pay offer.
Nurses could remain on picket lines until Christmas if they cannot reach a deal with the Government, Royal College of Nursing leader Pat Cullen said.
The Health Secretary has written an opinion piece for The Sun asking nurses to accept the NHS pay offer.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing will walk out for 48 hours from 8pm on April 30.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing have rejected the Government’s offer of a 5% rise this year and a cash payment for last year.
The BMA union urged Steve Barclay to agree to pay negotiations facilitated by Acas.
Junior doctors in England will strike again on Friday while the RCN is set to announce the result of a ballot over a proposed pay offer.
Some planned walkouts have been suspended so union members can vote on fresh pay offers, while teachers have rejected a deal.
The vote comes after six days of strikes since December.
Both the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery have voted to accept a pay offer which will see an average increase of 6.5%.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch was on a picket line at central London’s Euston station.
Months of strikes by healthcare workers could be brought to an end if the pay offer is agreed.
The breakthrough follows days of talks with the Government over the long-running dispute over pay.
The union represents health staff including those in the Scottish Ambulance Service.