Nurses Ready to Strike Again Over Pay as Talks Stall
RCN’s Pay Demand: From 19% to Possibly 10%
Pat Cullen, head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), isn’t backing down. The union initially demanded a 19% pay rise, which the Government slammed as “unaffordable.” But now, Cullen signals flexibility, saying a 10% increase could be on the table.
“There is a rhetoric out there that says the Royal College of Nursing is unrealistic, that it’s looking for something that’s completely unattainable, that it’s looking for 19%,” Cullen told Times Radio. “Do I believe those nurses are entitled to 19%? Absolutely. But we also understand the economic 1 in which we work.”
Government Told: “Meet Me Halfway”
Cullen hit out at Health Secretary Steve Barclay and the Prime Minister, urging them to negotiate seriously. “Get in a room, meet me halfway here, and do the right thing for these nurses,” she demanded. The strike drama isn’t over.
Strike Action to Hit More NHS Trusts
- Thousands of nurses walked out on December 15 and 20.
- RCN warns of fresh strikes on January 18 and 19.
- Strike impact set to expand from 44 to 55 NHS trusts.
- Union threatens six months of ongoing industrial action if talks fail.
Government Claims Generous Pay Deals
A Department of Health spokesperson insisted they’ve met NHS demands. “We have accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year,” they said.
This follows a 3% pay rise last year and several government support schemes tackling rising living costs. But nurses say it’s not enough after a decade of pay cuts wiping 20% off their earnings.
