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| Nurses will strike again in England after voting to reject government pay deal | Nurses will strike again in England after voting to reject government pay deal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| RCN members refuse offer recommended by union leaders by 54% to 46% in ballot | RCN members refuse offer recommended by union leaders by 54% to 46% in ballot |
| Nurses in England will go back out on strike for two days later this month after rejecting the government’s pay deal. | Nurses in England will go back out on strike for two days later this month after rejecting the government’s pay deal. |
| Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union narrowly voted against the deal, by 54% to 46%. It would have given them a 5% pay rise this year and a cash payment for last year. | Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union narrowly voted against the deal, by 54% to 46%. It would have given them a 5% pay rise this year and a cash payment for last year. |
| The result is a major blow to union leaders and ministers, who struck an agreement in mid-March that it was hoped would pave the way for an end to a series of strikes across the health service. | The result is a major blow to union leaders and ministers, who struck an agreement in mid-March that it was hoped would pave the way for an end to a series of strikes across the health service. |
| At the time, the RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen, said that following intense negotiations, there had come a point “where you know the other side won’t give any more”. The union recommended to its members that they vote to accept the offer. | At the time, the RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen, said that following intense negotiations, there had come a point “where you know the other side won’t give any more”. The union recommended to its members that they vote to accept the offer. |
| But on Friday, Cullen said what had been offered was “simply not enough” and called on the government “to increase what has already been offered”. | But on Friday, Cullen said what had been offered was “simply not enough” and called on the government “to increase what has already been offered”. |
| In a letter to the health secretary, Steve Barclay, Cullen wrote: “Since our talks in February, we have seen the pressures on the NHS continue to increase. | In a letter to the health secretary, Steve Barclay, Cullen wrote: “Since our talks in February, we have seen the pressures on the NHS continue to increase. |
| “The crisis in our health and care services cannot be addressed without significant action that addresses urgent recruitment and retention issues and nursing pay, to bring this dispute to a close urgently. | “The crisis in our health and care services cannot be addressed without significant action that addresses urgent recruitment and retention issues and nursing pay, to bring this dispute to a close urgently. |
| “Until there is a significantly improved offer, we are forced back to the picket line. Meetings alone are not sufficient to prevent strike action and I will require an improved offer as soon as possible. In February, you opened negotiations directly with me, and I urge you to do the same now.” | “Until there is a significantly improved offer, we are forced back to the picket line. Meetings alone are not sufficient to prevent strike action and I will require an improved offer as soon as possible. In February, you opened negotiations directly with me, and I urge you to do the same now.” |
| Cullen added: “After a historic vote to strike, our members expect a historic pay award.” | Cullen added: “After a historic vote to strike, our members expect a historic pay award.” |
| RCN members on “agenda for change” contracts will take 48 hours of round-the-clock strike action from 8pm on 30 April until 8pm on 2 May. Strikes are being planned in all regions across England, as well as in Health Education England, NHS Blood and Transplant, NHS England and NHS Resolution. | |
| Meanwhile, Unison, one of the six unions that held talks with Barclay, overwhelmingly voted to endorse the pay deal. It announced that 74% voted to accept the offer, while 26% thought it should be rejected. The turnout was 53%. | Meanwhile, Unison, one of the six unions that held talks with Barclay, overwhelmingly voted to endorse the pay deal. It announced that 74% voted to accept the offer, while 26% thought it should be rejected. The turnout was 53%. |
| Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “Clearly, health workers would have wanted more, but this was the best that could be achieved through negotiation. | Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “Clearly, health workers would have wanted more, but this was the best that could be achieved through negotiation. |
| “Over the past few weeks, health workers have weighed up what’s on offer. They’ve opted for the certainty of getting the extra cash in their pockets soon.” | “Over the past few weeks, health workers have weighed up what’s on offer. They’ve opted for the certainty of getting the extra cash in their pockets soon.” |
| The results of the two unions’ ballots come as junior doctors in England stage the final day of a four-day strike in an increasingly bitter dispute over their pay. | The results of the two unions’ ballots come as junior doctors in England stage the final day of a four-day strike in an increasingly bitter dispute over their pay. |
| Labour said on Friday that ministers should be “ready to negotiate”. | Labour said on Friday that ministers should be “ready to negotiate”. |
| James Murray, a shadow Treasury minister, told Sky News: “There has to be compromise. There has to be a deal, but it’s in the public’s interest as well as the interest of the workers concerned to get a deal and to avoid strikes going ahead.” | James Murray, a shadow Treasury minister, told Sky News: “There has to be compromise. There has to be a deal, but it’s in the public’s interest as well as the interest of the workers concerned to get a deal and to avoid strikes going ahead.” |
| He added that Labour did not want strikes, which were “damaging to patients, the NHS and the workers”, to go ahead. | He added that Labour did not want strikes, which were “damaging to patients, the NHS and the workers”, to go ahead. |