By John Ikani
Nursing staff in the UK are gearing up for a prolonged strike until the end of the year unless an agreement can be reached with the government on pay.
Leader of the country’s main nursing union, Pat Cullen made this known on the BBC’s “Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg” programme.
Cullen warned that members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) would first strike at the end of April and the beginning of May.
Should the strike continue, a ballot will be held on whether to extend it until the end of the year.
“If that ballot is successful, it will mean further strike action right up until Christmas,” Cullen added.
On Friday, members of the union rejected a government pay offer, leading to an escalation in strike action.
Expectations were high that nursing staff in England would accept the five percent pay offer brokered by the RCN and the government in March.
However, after the offer was presented to members, 54 percent voted against it.
The RCN members plan to walk out for 48 hours from 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on April 30, with the strike extended to staff in emergency departments, intensive care, and cancer care units for the first time.
This refusal is a blow to the government, which was hoping to end the crippling healthcare sector strike that has already led to thousands of operations and appointments being cancelled.
In addition, hospital doctors below consultant level have been on a four-day strike demanding better pay and conditions.
Following the rejection of the pay offer, Cullen received a letter from Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Sunday morning after requesting talks about the pay offer last week.
In late 2021, RCN members walked out for the first time in the union’s 108-year history.
They joined a wave of public and private sector workers calling for pay increases as inflation soared.
The government said that the RCN’s refusal of the pay offer was “hugely disappointing” and that it was “fair and generous.”
The pay offer included a five percent pay increase in the next financial year and a one-off bonus worth at least £1,250 ($1,510) per person.
Two other unions representing healthcare workers have not yet announced the results of their ballot on the offer.
Healthcare bosses warn that further strikes would impact already lengthy waiting lists for treatment, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce.
