Nurses set for ‘intensive’ talks with government after strike paused

As reported by the BBC, health secretary Stephen Barclay is to meet Royal College of Nursing bosses for pay talks later, after the union suspended next week’s planned strike

In a joint statement, after months of bitter dispute, the two sides said they would begin ‘intensive talks’ on ‘pay, terms and conditions’ and ‘reforms to enhance productivity’. The RCN had originally asked for a pay rise of five per cent above inflation. It has since said it would be willing to meet the government half-way.

Other health unions said they were disappointed not to have been invited to the discussions. Next week’s walkout in England, from 1 to 3 March, was set to be the biggest strike of this winter’s pay dispute, with half of frontline services affected.

The action would have included nursing staff from intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “We will put our plans on the table, they can put their plans on the table – but I’m confident that we will come out with a fair pay settlement for our nursing staff.”

She added they would make sure no stone was left unturned and a fair pay deal was reached as quickly as possible so they could end the strikes.

Ministers had for months refused to discuss adding to the 2022-23 pay award of 4.75% on average for nurses and other staff.

The RCN for its part had made that a line in the sand – and it is fair to assume that the union head, Pat Cullen, would not have entered into the new talks if there had not been a softening of the government’s stance.

Shortly after the announcement that both sides would be restarting talks, the government also unveiled its plans for the 2023-24 pay rise, which would come in to effect in April.

It told the NHS pay review body it was willing to give a rise of 3.5%. But it does not rule out going higher than this.

Nobody is confirming the precise scope of Wednesday’s discussions but it seems likely that some sort of payment to add to the existing award this year will be on the table.

One source close to the negotiations said the door had been opened for next year’s pay award to be backdated.

The joint statement said: ‘The government and RCN have agreed to enter a process of intensive talks.

‘Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the NHS and the wider economic pressures facing the UK and the prime minister’s priority to halve inflation.

‘The health secretary will meet with the RCN on Wednesday to begin talks. The RCN will pause strike action during these talks.’

But a spokesperson for one health union, Unison, said the government’s decision to meet just the Royal College of Nursing alone – and not them as well – would do ‘nothing to solve the NHS pay dispute’.

The NHS faces further industrial action from unions representing ambulance drivers and junior doctors, and more dates could yet be announced.