Royal College of Nursing members will go on strike again this month after rejecting the government’s latest pay offer
The 48-hour strike will take place from 8pm on 30th April to 8pm on 2 May, without derogations while the union seeks to re-open pay talks with the government.
The RCN revealed that 61% of eligible members voted on the latest pay offer with 54% voting to reject it.
In a letter to Steve Barclay, RCN chief executive, Pat Cullen said: ‘What has been offered to date is simply not enough. The government needs to increase what has already been offered and we will be highly critical of any move to reduce it.
‘Until there is a significantly improved offer, we are forced back to the picket line. Meetings alone are not sufficient to prevent strike action and I will require an improved offer as soon as possible.’
Steve Barclay expressed his disappointment of the news when replying to Cullen’s letter.
He said: ‘Given that you supported the offer we reached together, and that your ballot saw a very narrow result, I am also both disappointed and concerned that the Royal College of Nursing has chosen to announce 48 hours of continuous strike action without consultation of other Staff Council unions or waiting for the full Staff Council consultation to complete. The decision to refuse at this stage any exemptions for even the most urgent and life-threatening treatment during this action will, I fear, put patients at risk.’
Meanwhile, UNISON members have voted to accept the pay offer, the union announced on Friday.
Out of the 288,000 NHS workers who took part, almost three quarters voted to accept the offer and 26% to reject.
UNISON head of health, Sara Gorton warned: ‘This vote might end UNISON’s dispute, but it doesn’t solve the wider staffing emergency affecting every part of the NHS. Now, the government must work with unions to bring about a sustained programme of investment in the workforce.’
NHS Confederation, chief executive Matthew Taylor responded to the two outcomes with: ‘This mixed outcome leaves the NHS in limbo at a time when it desperately needs certainty. NHS leaders will be anxious about the impact it will have on patient care and their efforts to bring down waiting lists.’
‘The cumulative impact of the strikes has already seen the cancellation of over 300,000 appointments and operations, and this number will swell following the junior doctor strikes this week. The prospect of months of further strike action will be a cause of great concern.’