Nurses have rejected the government’s proposal for a new wage deal and this month went on another two-day strike at hospitals across England.
The 48-hour strike will affect emergency room, intensive care and oncology staff for the first time after the Royal College of Nursing said it would not offer any exemptions during the break.
Critical care professionals have urged the government to urgently meet with RCN leaders to resolve the dispute ahead of the April 30 strike.
Just over half of the RKN members who voted rejected a 6 percent lump sum and a 5 percent pay increase.
The result, 54 percent against, 46 percent in favor, was a blow to ministers and RCN general secretary Pat Cullen, who recommended members support the deal after weeks of strikes and hard-fought negotiations.
However, voter turnout was only 61 percent, meaning that only about a third of all SKN members opposed the agreement.
The new 48-hour strike will take place around the clock, seven days a week, from 20:00 on April 30 to 20:00 on May 2, and without any anomalies.
During previous strikes, emergency rooms, intensive care units, and oncology units were vacated. The absence of anomalies means that there will be fewer medical staff in all these critical services, and hospital bosses will be forced to provide cover.
An escalation in strikes will force ministers to negotiate a new wage deal, but government sources have made it clear there is little chance of resuming supplies.
In a separate vote on the NHS Pay Agreement, members of Unison — the largest union representing over a third of all workers participating in the Agenda for Change agreement — voted overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement, with 74% voting in favor of the agreement.
This means that despite the nurses’ refusal, an NHS staff council vote on May 2 is likely to approve the deal for all NHS staff, including RCN members.
RCN’s semi-annual strike mandate expires May 9th. RCN said it would hold a new vote on the long-term strike after that date.
But with only 33 percent of all RCN members rejecting the deal and it is likely to be approved by the NHS Staff Council, the prospects for future strikes after early May appear uncertain.
In a letter to Health Secretary Steve Barclay, Ms Cullen said: “What has been proposed so far is simply not enough. The government needs to increase what is already on offer, and we will be very critical of any steps to reduce it.
“Following our talks in February, we have seen pressure on the NHS continue to mount. The crisis in our health and care services cannot be resolved without comprehensive action to address the urgent recruitment and retention issues and caregiver payments to urgently end this dispute.
“Until there is a significant improvement in care, we have been pushed back to the picket lines. Meetings alone are not enough to prevent strikes, and I will request an improved offer as soon as possible. You started direct talks with me in February and I urge you to do so now.
“After a historic vote to strike, our members await a historic reward.”
The wage offer was made on March 16 after six days of strikes during the winter and four weeks of intense wage negotiations with ministers.
The breakthrough was a huge success for Rishi Sunak and Barclay, but the prospect of more strikes ahead of the May 4 local elections will raise alarms in Downing Street.
Government sources said I it was very unlikely that the salary offer would be revised.
This was announced by a government spokesman: “It is very disappointing that the members of the Royal College of Nursing have rejected the collective bargaining agreement recommended by their management. After constructive discussion, all parties agreed that this was a fair and generous offer, as evidenced by the fact that Unison, representing the majority of NHS staff, decided to accept it.
“The fact that the Royal College of Nursing has announced a total strike escalation based on the decision of a minority of nursing staff will be of great concern to patients.
“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.”
The Intensive Care Society said in a statement: “We call on the government to meet with RCN officials as a matter of urgency.
“The intensive care unit is all beds with beeps without highly trained professionals who provide skilled and compassionate care to each of us and our loved ones.”
Source: I News
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