Nursing staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will vote on a proposed 3.6% pay increase starting Monday, as announced by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The RCN has already rejected this award as "grotesque," stating it is insufficient to keep pace with inflation.
Key Points
- Ballot Participation: Almost 350,000 nursing staff will participate in the vote, which could influence future industrial action, including potential strikes.
- Previous Strikes: This vote follows a bitter pay dispute that led to strikes from late last year through winter, with other health unions also staging walkouts over pay.
- Comparison with Other Health Workers:
- Pay awards for other health professionals included:
- 5.4% average increase for resident doctors
- 4% increase for consultants and senior doctors
- Nursing staff received lower increases compared to other groups, with those at higher grades often receiving less than their lower-graded counterparts who have more years of service.
- Pay awards for other health professionals included:
RCN’s Position
The RCN is urging its members to reject the proposed offer, emphasizing that it does not align with the current inflation rate, which has been above 6% since January 2022. The RCN spokesperson stated:
- "We urge all our members across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to reject this grotesque offer."
- "Three point six percent is nowhere near enough to address the cost-of-living crisis that many of our members are facing."
- "We know that many people are struggling just now, but we cannot accept an offer that would leave most of our members worse off than they were before."
NHS Employers’ Response
A spokesperson for NHS Employers acknowledged the difficulties faced by staff but defended the pay awards, stating:
- "We believe these awards reflect what’s possible given current financial pressures."
- "The NHS is facing significant challenges, including rising demand and increasing costs, so we need everyone’s help if we’re going to get through them."
An NHS spokesperson also expressed appreciation for the hard work done by NHS staff daily.
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