NHS Nurses Set for More Strikes After Pay Talks Collapse
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that if no progress is made by the end of January, nurses in England and Wales will strike again on 6 and 7 February. This follows the UK and Welsh governments’ refusal to seriously negotiate the NHS pay deal for the current year.
RCN Escalates Strike Action
The RCN declared, “We’re escalating nursing strikes on 6 and 7 February after governments refuse to seriously negotiate.” The union says both governments have wasted opportunities to avoid strike action by failing to offer a fair pay deal.
While the Welsh government met with unions last week, the RCN slammed the offer as lacking a “substantive and restorative pay award for 2022/23.” In the UK, formal negotiations have been refused altogether, blocking any chance to halt strikes.
Our dispute is about NHS pay for this financial year and governments have so far wasted chances to avert strike action.
Recent Strikes Disrupt NHS Services Across South East
Earlier strikes hit England, Northern Ireland, and Wales on 15 and 20 December, with fresh walkouts in England on 18 and 19 January.
The following NHS employers in the South East were affected during this week’s strikes:
- Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Kent and Medway ICB
- NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
- portsmouth/" title="Portsmouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
- University Hospital southampton/" title="Southampton" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Solent NHS Trust
The RCN urges governments to step up and agree terms to avoid further chaos in NHS services.
