Today (13 July), the UK government announced pay rises for millions of public sector workers for this financial year. For the majority of professionals it relates to – police officers, prison staff, teachers and doctors – the percentage pay rise is greater than 5%, which is what RCN members working for the NHS in England rejected but got implemented after other NHS unions accepted it.
Our members’ rejection of the 5% offer led to further strike action and a subsequent ballot to extend NHS nursing strikes in England, which saw more than 100,000 members vote in favour. However, due to draconian trade union laws, turnout in that ballot didn’t meet the required threshold for us to strike again.
Responding to the news today, RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “The Prime Minister will have to explain to over a million outraged NHS workers why they are getting the lowest pay rise in the public sector.
“Record numbers of nursing jobs in the NHS are unfilled and the government cannot expect to turn that around when it appears not to value them. Patients are paying the price.
“Inflation is not coming down in the way ministers told NHS staff and others it would be. For nursing staff, the pay rise they actually rejected is worth increasingly little and being eclipsed now by announcements for other professions. It is unfair and inadequate.
“This seems a highly cavalier approach by government when it knows over 100,000 nursing staff across the country voted to continue strike action only days ago. Today’s news will only add to that number.”
Our campaign for fair pay for nursing continues. Find out how you can join our fight.
