Nurses Set for Bigger Strikes in January
Nurses in England are gearing up for another showdown with the government. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced strikes on January 18 and 19 – with more hospital trusts joining the action than ever before.
Pat Cullen, head of the RCN, slammed the government for ignoring staff demands. “They had a chance to end this before January but chose to send nurses back out into the cold,” she said. “Public support is overwhelming. This is about saving the NHS and patient care.”
Ambulance Strikes: Christmas Reprieve But New Walkout Looms
The GMB union has cancelled ambulance strikes planned for December 28 in England and Wales, giving the public a Christmas free from disruption. But, they’re not out of action for long. A fresh strike is set for January 11 – a coordinated walkout with other ambulance workers from Unite.
Shockingly, up to 10,000 ambulance staff were set to down tools right before Christmas.
More Strikes to Hit in January
- January 11: GMB ambulance staff strike alongside Unite members
- January 11 and 23: Unison nurses strike in England’s North and South West
Unison confirmed two more strike days next month covering Yorkshire, the Northwest, Northeast, and Southwest – ramping up pressure on the government.
Government and Unions at an Impasse
Health Secretary Steve Barclay slammed the strikes as “disappointing,” warning that meeting the pay demands would “take money from frontline services” and delay patient care.
But unions insist they want fair talks to protect staff pay and stop the NHS haemorrhaging workers. With no end in sight, patients could face chaos well into the new year.
