Nurses union to reject pay deal as strike vote looms

Nurses union to reject pay deal as strike vote looms

According to sources at the BBC, nurses in England are expected to reject their pay increase this week, potentially paving the way for strikes later in the year. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has been conducting a vote on the proposed 3.6% pay rise, criticizing the disparity between the increase for nurses compared to other professions such as doctors, teachers, prison officers, and the armed forces. The outcome of the vote is anticipated to demonstrate a resounding rejection of the offer.

Despite the government’s assertion of having already implemented two above-inflation pay rises, urging RCN members to accept the current proposal, the possibility of formal strike action looms if the pay award is turned down. Any decision regarding strikes would be postponed until later in the year. The turnout for the vote is projected to exceed the necessary 50% threshold for industrial action.

The RCN has expressed openness to discussions beyond headline pay, highlighting broader concerns such as pay structure reform, career progression, and overall working conditions. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care emphasized the government’s stance on headline pay, signaling an intention to collaborate with the RCN to address primary issues. Meanwhile, the GMB union, representing various health workers including ambulance crews, recently rejected the government’s pay deal in a preliminary vote and has requested a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to address pertinent issues.

In a separate development, resident doctors in England initiated a five-day strike following unsuccessful negotiations between the government and the British Medical Association on pay-related matters. The Health Secretary acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the strike but assured that efforts were in place to minimize disruptions to the NHS. Overall, the situation underscores ongoing challenges and tensions within the healthcare sector in the UK

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