The RCN has cancelled planned action in Wales for this week after the Welsh government reopened the NHS pay award.
The strike was due to take place on February 6 and February 7 however negotiations with the Welsh government resulted in a new NHS pay offer being proposed for 2022-23.
The offer of an additional 3% will be voted on by RCN members in the next few days.
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- Nurses going on strike is in nobody's best interests says Health Secretary
The Welsh government has followed Scotland in formally reopening the NHS pay award, leaving the English government as the only nation refusing to negotiate with the union on pay.
‘If the other governments can negotiate and find more money for this year, the Prime Minister can do the same. Rishi Sunak has no place left to hide. His unwillingness to help nursing is being exposed as a personal choice, not an economic necessity,’ said Pat Cullen, RCN chief executive.
Ms Cullen has repeatedly asked the English government to reopen negotiations to avert further strike action.
However, her requests have been denied, with Health Secretary Steve Barclay calling the RCN’s pay award request as ‘unreasonable’.
The RCN will hold more strikes this week with 73 NHS trusts taking part this time, as opposed to the 55 that took part in January.
‘If the Prime Minister decides to leave England’s nurses as the lowest paid in the UK, he must expect this strike to continue. He can still turn things around before Monday, start talking seriously and the strikes are off,’ said Ms Cullen.