UK: Health Minister Says Government Will Not Negotiate on Pay With Nurses' Union Amidst Strikes

British health minister Steve Barclay said the government would not be negotiating with the nurses’ union on pay. The comment comes as the government faces further strike action by workers in key sectors.

On Sunday, Barclay said the government would not be negotiating with the nurses’ union on pay when pressed by Sky News on whether the government plans to return to talks with the Royal College of Nursing. Barclay’s comments follow the developments back in April when the government proposed a one-off payment that makes up two percent of salaries in the 2022/2023 fiscal year with a five percent pay rise in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The RCN’s members rejected the offer.

The RCN is asking its 300,000 members to vote on taking further strike action. The RCN has said that the government must pay the staff of the National Health Service “fairly.” The relationship between the RCN and the NHS also came under further strain in April when the health ministry limited the duration of strike action following legal action against the union.

The strike is one of several strikes staged by unions representing workers in key sectors protesting against pay and working conditions at a time of high inflation. The government has argued that inflation may worsen if any increases in pay are made.

On Sunday, a union representing workers in the British government’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said they will take strike action for 15 days starting on June 11. The workers of the DVLA, who are represented by the Public and Commercial Services union, will be taking industrial action as they seek a “fair pay rise.”

On Wednesday last week, the largest union representing workers in the Royal Mail said it was suspending voting on an agreement that was reached with the Royal Mail in April over pay and working conditions, saying that the country’s largest postal service did not adhere to some of the conditions that were agreed upon with the union.

In April, the Communication Workers Union said it recommended that its members vote in support of the deal made with Royal Mail, including a 10 percent increase in pay and a one-off lump sum pay of over $600.

Photo: Simon Walker (No. 10 Downing Street)/Wikimedia Commons(CC by 2.0)