UK: Nurses Reject Pay Offer, Plan More Strikes

Facts

• On Friday, nurses in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union rejected the UK government's offer of a 5% pay increase plus a minimum £1,655 ($2,050) cash bonus and set out plans for further strikes over the first May bank holiday.¹
• The decision comes in contrast to union leaders' recommendation to accept the offer and means there will be a round-the-clock 48-hour strike — without exemptions — from April 30 until May 2.²
• With a turnout of 61% of eligible voters, 54% elected to reject the government’s offer. Meanwhile, Unison NHS workers overwhelmingly backed the terms, with 74% in favor.³
• The division between the unions means that health workers who voted in favor of the offer might be required to cover the shifts of their striking colleagues.³
• The result represents a setback for PM Rishi Sunak's government, which has faced a series of pay disputes from public workers as wages struggle to keep pace with the record-high inflation.⁴
• Meanwhile, the government responded to the decision, saying it's “hugely concerning” for patients, while RCN leader Pat Cullen said the union would continue striking unless the government “significantly improve[s]” its offer.⁵

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Sky news, ³The telegraph, ⁴Reuters and ⁵Guardian.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Socialist alternative. RCN nurses made the right choice to reject the conservative government’s inadequate pay offer. The decision is a massive win for union members across the UK and a devastating blow for the Tories. The anti-labor forces are losing ground, and until a more reasonable offer is presented, the unrest will only continue.
• Right narrative, as provided by The telegraph. The RCN’s decision to reject a fair offer and significant pay raise isn't only reckless and deeply concerning but also isn't representative of what most workers want. It's disheartening that a minority of RCN members were able to derail a deal that was widely supported by most union members.