Steve Barclay has offered to negotiate with all heath unions involved in strikes in England.
The Health Secretary wrote a letter to the NHS Staff Council on Thursday, inviting health unions like UNISON and GMB to enter formal pay negotiations.
The Guardian reported that sources who have knowledge of Mr Barclay’s letter, said it contained a willingness to discuss a one-off payment for the current financial year as well as pay deals for 2023-24.
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Chair of the union group on the NHS staff council and UNISON head of health, Sara Gorton responded to the invite cautiously saying: ‘Health unions will need to clarify the basis upon which talks can get underway through the NHS staff council.
‘This includes understanding the status of the unilateral talks that have taken place with the Royal College of Nursing.’
The RCN called off their strikes last week to enter talks with the Government over pay after months of deadlock.
This caused tensions between the government and other health unions to increase and prolonged the risks of more strikes.
‘Strikes across the NHS won’t end until ministers hold proper pay talks with all unions involved in action. Attempting a deal with just one solves nothing and it certainly risks prolonging the dispute,’ said Ms Gorton, when RCN talks with the Government were announced.
The invite from Mr Barclay came 24 hours after the GMB, representing ambulance workers, announced tighter derogations for the strikes next week.
GMB national secretary, Rachel Harrison said: ‘It is no surprise that this has come less than 24 hours after GMB ambulance workers announced tighter derogations. However the government has set some concerning preconditions and we need more clarity from them.
‘Vague promises will not cut it, ambulance workers need to know that they are going to be spoken to seriously about pay.’
The preconditions for talks include suspending strikes and committing in advance to recommend any deal reached to the unions’ members, according to the Guardian.
Unions are currently deciding whether they want to accept the health secretary’s offer.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said: ‘We would hope that all trade unions representing healthcare professionals across the NHS accept this olive branch from the government and are prepared to come to the table with the aim of reaching a compromise with the government as quickly as possible.’