Nurses in the UK went on strike for the second time on Tuesday this month, and the union representing the category has threatened to intensify the wage dispute by setting more strike days if the government does not respond to their demands within 48 hours.
The strike of up to 100,000 nurses is unprecedented in the British nurses union’s 106-year history, but the union says it has no choice as workers grapple with inflation above 10%.
The government offered nurses a raise of about 4% and refused to discuss the salary further, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said nurses’ salary increase of 5% plus inflation would mean a 19% increase in demand and was unattainable.
“I will negotiate with him at any time to stop nursing staff and new year patients facing so much uncertainty,” said Pat Cullen, union boss at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
“But if this government is not ready to do the right thing, we will have no choice but to continue until January, and that will be very sad.”
RCN said it has given the government 48 hours from late Tuesday to respond before announcing new strike dates.
The UK is facing a wave of protests this winter and ambulance workers are going on strike Wednesday as the government prepares to step in and use the army to drive ambulances.
Junior health minister Will Quince told Sky News, “We are open to discuss anything with the unions regarding working conditions. What we cannot do is reopen the wage premium.”
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.