The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has suspended a two-day strike scheduled for next week after the government agreed to resume wage negotiations.
Thousands of nurses from 128 services across England were due to leave March 1-3, a major escalation in a long-standing dispute over wages and staff.
For the first time, members of the intensive care unit and the emergency department were to be involved in the operation, raising fears of serious consequences for patients.
The strike comes after months of digging on both sides after the government had previously refused to accept an offer to wage this year below inflation, cut next year’s wages to this year’s level, or offer more money from the treasury.
Do nurses get a raise?
The government recommended that millions of public sector workers be offered wage increases well below the rate of inflation.
Nurses are encouraged to receive a salary of 3.5% for fiscal year 2023-24 based on proposals submitted to the independent NHS pay review body.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHSC) said: “Rewarding above this level will require civil service compromises or additional public borrowing at a time when room to maneuver against fiscal rules is historically limited and sound public finances are vital in the fight.” against inflation.
The average NHS nurse wage has fallen 8% in real terms since 2010. The RCN, which has over 400,000 members, is calling for a 19 percent pay rise, five percent above price inflation (RPI). It also calls for consideration of compensation for the 2022/23 financial year.
But RCN general secretary Pat Cullen had earlier said that union action would be stopped if government ministers agreed to accept the Welsh government’s 7 per cent offer, causing strikes to be suspended.
On Wednesday, Health Secretary Steve Barclay met with Ms Cullen for substantive talks on pay and working conditions, after which Ms Cullen said she was “confident” an agreement could be reached.
Ahead of the talks, RCN and DHSC said in a joint statement: “The government and the Royal College of Nursing have agreed to start a process of intensive negotiations.
“Both sides are keen to find a fair and reasonable deal that recognizes the important role of nurses in the NHS and the broader economic hardships facing the UK, as well as the prime minister’s priority to halve inflation. Negotiations will focus on wages, benefits and reforms to improve productivity.”
RCN is unlikely to agree to a 3.5% offer. However, the final rate may be higher.
In the past, the NHS Pay Inspectorate has recommended more than the government’s initial proposals, and the government has agreed to these terms.
Can the nurses’ strike continue?
The strike could continue next week if negotiations fail.
Ms. Cullen said on Tuesday: “For now, we have canceled the promotion, 48 hours, that we had planned for March.
“Let’s now focus on these negotiations and make sure that we can bring them to a positive conclusion for every nurse who has participated in these pickets over the past three months.”
Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive of NHS Employers, who represents NHS employers in England, said: “It’s positive that we are having substantive discussions with RCN.
“NHS employers will do their best to support a constructive outcome of negotiations with the RCN and other unions.”
Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Leaders of the trust will breathe a sigh of relief that the government and RCN have finally sat down at the negotiating table to discuss wages and that the upcoming nurses’ strikes have now been put on hold.
“For these negotiations to lead to a solution, any agreed settlement must be approved by the members of the RCN. I hope this will pave the way for similar negotiations with other unions planning strikes.
“We look forward to the results and hope that further service disruptions can be avoided so that NHS workers can continue to provide quality care, close backlogs and achieve electoral goals.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.