The nurse burst into tears of joy when she learned that her colleagues had turned down the government’s salary offer.
said Linda Binaconi I It’s time for nurses to fight for what they’re worth, adding, “I’m so glad we gave up, so happy.”
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) are on strike again after refusing a 5% pay rise and a lump sum, rekindling their bitter wage dispute with the government. RCN bosses urged nurses to accept the offer, even though it was much lower than the original demand of 19 percent.
Ms Binaccioni voted in favor of a “violent rejection” of the opening day vote on March 28, saying she was saddened by the downsizing and rising burnout she has witnessed.
A 50-year-old research nurse from Oxfordshire said: “I had colleagues who used food banks, I [have] Colleagues leave nurses and are forced to look for work elsewhere.”
The nurses who agreed to the contract did so out of “guilt,” she said. “[They] Feel guilty if you ask for more.”
Ms Binaccioni added: “I think this is positive for the future of nursing. If we don’t fight now, we won’t get the NHS, the skilled nursing profession.
“We feel very passionate, it’s not just about paying, it’s about saving the NHS and patients’ lives and keeping them safe. We must be strong.”
Matthew Taylor, CEO of the NHS Confederation, called the RCN results “disappointing”.
“This mixed result leaves the National Health Service in limbo at a time when it is in desperate need of comfort. NHS leaders will be concerned about the impact on patient care and their efforts to reduce waiting lists.
“The cumulative impact of the strikes has already resulted in the cancellation of more than 300,000 appointments and surgeries, and this number should increase after this week’s young doctors’ strikes. The prospect of months-long strikes will be of great concern.”
He added: “NHS leaders understand the pressures staff face and the context that led to the strikes. We know that these decisions are never taken lightly and depend on several factors besides payment. But this latest development after the RCN vote will lead to more uncertainty. Now we have to wait for the opinion of other unions before we know where this will lead.”
NHS providers described the vote as “a setback” and “a highly worrying situation”.
“However, on the positive side, a large proportion of Unison members voted to accept the agreement,” said Adam Brimelow, director of communications for NHS Providers.
“Members of other unions are still voting on the government’s wage proposal. The proposal was not just for nurses, but for all NHS staff (with the exception of doctors and senior executives). The outcome of their vote will also be important.”
The government has offered nurses in England a 5% pay increase in 2023/24, as well as a lump sum payment from £1,655 to £3,789 the previous year.
Sister Holly Johnston, who works in oncology, said: “The flat rate is very attractive because people are going through a cost of living crisis, they have bills to pay, they can’t afford not to pay for real, so it’s understandable why people would accept the offer, and I think it’s a deliberate government tactic to decorate the rose bed with a lump sum.
She said the 5% pay rise was not enough to hire and retain NHS staff, adding that she was opposed to the deal.
“It’s also understandable why people are angry and why people are willing to fight for a better deal.”
Ms Johnston said some nurses may have been swayed to back out of the deal after the young doctors went on strike.
“The attitude of the government towards the BMA shows that they do not want to invest in the NHS or its staff. Their battle is our battle, and our battle is their battle.
“The BMA fight may have motivated some people to fight for what they have to.
“It might seem bold to call a 35 percent requirement, but it is calculated based on what they have lost over the years and what it takes to retain and hire staff for important work.”
The government said: “The decision of the members of Unison, the NHS’s largest union, to accept the wage offer recommended by their management shows that it is a fair and reasonable offer that could end this dispute.
“As part of the offer, an Agenda for Change employee at the Band 6 entry point, such as a physiotherapist, paramedic or midwife, will receive over £5,100 last and this year, as well as over £2,000 in bonus payments. at a time just in the salary until the summer.
“Hundreds of thousands of Agenda for Change workers will continue to vote for other unions over the next two weeks, and we hope this generous offer wins their support.”
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.