UK ministers&nbsp;intend to force the&nbsp;wage deal on NHS staff despite the fact that nurses continue to object to it, as health service unions gear up&nbsp;to hold crucial discussions on the deal&nbsp;this week, reported The guardian.

After protracted talks that resulted in strikes and impeded efforts to reduce waiting lists, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Unite unions both still oppose the deal provided to NHS employees. On Tuesday, the 12 unions involved in the negotiations will come together to vote on whether to accept an improved agreement for the previous two years.

Sources who&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;to The Guardian&nbsp;claimed that ministers would simply implement the agreement if the unions opposed to it were to lose the vote. The RCN, which will start a new strike on Sunday, is reportedly being isolated by the action.

At a meeting of the NHS staff council on Tuesday, health unions will discuss the agreement. Despite persistent opposition, the majority of insiders anticipate it will pass the vote. Before the latest strike action, there have been concerns of a morale crisis within the NHS.

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Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said there were now “serious issues” about recruitment that went beyond the current pay talks. “I talk to NHS leaders all the time and I have never known a period when leaders are so worried about staff morale and there is a sense of a loss of hope,” he told the BBC. “We have 120,000-plus of vacancies in the health service.”

The general secretary of the RCN, Pat Cullen, called it "disingenuous" to attribute the ongoing issue of treatment delays to strikes.

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The proposed agreement would add a one-time, non-consolidated payment of between £1,250 and £2,000 for 2022–23 to the $1,400 increase in basic pay that NHS employees in England have already received, with the exception of doctors and dentists. For 2023–2024, it also contains a 5% increase in the minimum wage.

The RCN's most recent strike was scheduled to go until 8 p.m. on May 2, but it was forced to end early after the top court in London determined that the RCN's legal right to strike had expired on May 1. 
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UK ministers intend to force the wage deal on NHS staff despite the fact that nurses continue to object to it, as health service unions gear up to hold crucial discussions on the deal this week, reported The guardian.

UK ministers intend to force the wage deal on NHS staff despite the fact that nurses continue to object to it, as health service unions gear up to hold crucial discussions on the deal this week, reported The guardian. After protracted talks that resulted in strikes and impeded efforts to reduce waiting lists, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Unite unions both still oppose the deal provided to NHS employees. On Tuesday, the 12 unions involved in the negotiations will come together to vote on whether to accept an improved agreement for the previous two years. Sources who spoke to The Guardian claimed that ministers would simply implement the agreement if the unions opposed to it were to lose the vote. The RCN, which will start a new strike on Sunday, is reportedly being isolated by the action. At a meeting of the NHS staff council on Tuesday, health unions will discuss the agreement. Despite persistent opposition, the majority of insiders anticipate it will pass the vote. Before the latest strike action, there have been concerns of a morale crisis within the NHS. ALSO WATCH | US Fed chair Jerome Powell pranked by Russian impersonators posing as Zelensky Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said there were now “serious issues” about recruitment that went beyond the current pay talks. “I talk to NHS leaders all the time and I have never known a period when leaders are so worried about staff morale and there is a sense of a loss of hope,” he told the BBC. “We have 120,000-plus of vacancies in the health service.” The general secretary of the RCN, Pat Cullen, called it "disingenuous" to attribute the ongoing issue of treatment delays to strikes. ALSO WATCH | Netherlands: Sperm donor who fathered 550 children ordered to stop The proposed agreement would add a one-time, non-consolidated payment of between £1,250 and £2,000 for 2022–23 to the $1,400 increase in basic pay that NHS employees in England have already received, with the exception of doctors and dentists. For 2023–2024, it also contains a 5% increase in the minimum wage. The RCN's most recent strike was scheduled to go until 8 p.m. on May 2, but it was forced to end early after the top court in London determined that the RCN's legal right to strike had expired on May 1. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ministers plan to enforce NHS pay deal on workers despite opposition from unions

The United Kingdom’s government, on Monday (April 24) said that it was applying for a court order to stop a part of the nurses’ strike in England. As the UK Health Secretary, who has seemingly given up on halting the industrial action altogether, has now moved to stop a part of it.&nbsp;

The RCN strike

Nurses across the UK are set to strike starting April 30 evening till May 2. This comes days after&nbsp;the members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) rejected the five per cent offer by the government to end their industrial action.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) has criticised the RCN for not granting any exemptions from this walkout for key areas of care like the intensive care and maternity services after doing so during the six previous strikes in December, January and February.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-ministers-apply-to-high-court-to-stop-part-of-nurses-strike-in-england-585950">UK: Ministers apply to high court to stop part of nurses’ strike in England</a>

The RCN plans to re-ballot its members next month for further strikes which the head of the union has warned can go on till Christmas if they are not given a higher pay. The strikes are scheduled to run from 8:00 pm (local time) on Sunday 30 April to 8:00 pm on Tuesday 2 May.

UK government calls the strike ‘unlawful’

The British Health Secretary Steve Barclay said that the application to the high court was being sent after a request from NHS Employers, which represents hospital groups in England and Wales who have deemed the planned strike on May 2 “unlawful”.&nbsp;

“Despite attempts by my officials to resolve the situation over the weekend, I have been left with no choice but to proceed with legal action. I firmly support the right to take industrial action within the law,” adding that the government “cannot stand by and let a plainly unlawful strike action go ahead nor ignore the request of NHS Employers.”&nbsp;

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“We must also protect nurses by ensuring they are not asked to take part in an unlawful strike,” said the UK health minister. The government’s application will reportedly rely on legislation that stipulates unions have six months from the initial vote for strike action to walk out and&nbsp;has also maintained that RCN’s lawful ballot mandate ends at 11:59 pm on May 1.

How has the RCN responded?

The RCN has previously accused NHS Employers of “seeking to discredit” the action on May 2 and warned about “strongly” resisting the application for “injunctive relief from any or all NHS employers.” In a recent interview, RCN’s general secretary, Pat Cullen said that the government’s “threat” and “wrong and indefensible,” as quoted by The Guardian.&nbsp;

She added, “The only way to deal with bullies is to stand up to them…including in court.” This comes as the union also contests the government in a hearing which is expected to take place in the next couple of days. The RCN’s chief also criticised the health minister for deploying a “draconian anti-trade union legislation”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The United Kingdom’s government, on Monday (April 24) said that it was applying for a court order to stop a part of the nurses’ strike in England. As the UK Health Secretary, who has seemingly given up on halting the industrial action altogether, has now moved to stop a part of it.

The United Kingdom’s government, on Monday (April 24) said that it was applying for a court order to stop a part of the nurses’ strike in England. As the UK Health Secretary, who has seemingly given up on halting the industrial action altogether, has now moved to stop a part of it. The RCN strike Nurses across the UK are set to strike starting April 30 evening till May 2. This comes days after the members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) rejected the five per cent offer by the government to end their industrial action. Meanwhile, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) has criticised the RCN for not granting any exemptions from this walkout for key areas of care like the intensive care and maternity services after doing so during the six previous strikes in December, January and February. ALSO WATCH | UK: Ministers apply to high court to stop part of nurses’ strike in England The RCN plans to re-ballot its members next month for further strikes which the head of the union has warned can go on till Christmas if they are not given a higher pay. The strikes are scheduled to run from 8:00 pm (local time) on Sunday 30 April to 8:00 pm on Tuesday 2 May. UK government calls the strike ‘unlawful’ The British Health Secretary Steve Barclay said that the application to the high court was being sent after a request from NHS Employers, which represents hospital groups in England and Wales who have deemed the planned strike on May 2 “unlawful”. “Despite attempts by my officials to resolve the situation over the weekend, I have been left with no choice but to proceed with legal action. I firmly support the right to take industrial action within the law,” adding that the government “cannot stand by and let a plainly unlawful strike action go ahead nor ignore the request of NHS Employers.” ALSO READ | Explained: 23,000 schools across UK to be affected as teachers announce strike. Here's all you need to know “We must also protect nurses by ensuring they are not asked to take part in an unlawful strike,” said the UK health minister. The government’s application will reportedly rely on legislation that stipulates unions have six months from the initial vote for strike action to walk out and has also maintained that RCN’s lawful ballot mandate ends at 11:59 pm on May 1. How has the RCN responded? The RCN has previously accused NHS Employers of “seeking to discredit” the action on May 2 and warned about “strongly” resisting the application for “injunctive relief from any or all NHS employers.” In a recent interview, RCN’s general secretary, Pat Cullen said that the government’s “threat” and “wrong and indefensible,” as quoted by The Guardian. She added, “The only way to deal with bullies is to stand up to them…including in court.” This comes as the union also contests the government in a hearing which is expected to take place in the next couple of days. The RCN’s chief also criticised the health minister for deploying a “draconian anti-trade union legislation”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK government seeks high court order to halt part of ‘unlawful’ nurses’ strike

In an escalating pay dispute, tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance workers have&nbsp;staged&nbsp;Britain's largest-ever health workers' strike on Monday (February 6), the health minister warning that this will put further strain on the National Health Service (NHS). The largest strike in the NHS's 75-year history&nbsp;included&nbsp;both nurses and ambulance personnel after they had been striking separately on and off since late last year.

Stephen Powis, England's top physician who spoke to Reuters, said that this week's strike action—during which physiotherapists will also walk out on Thursday (February 9) —would likely be the most disruptive so far.

The government claims that health workers' demands for salary reflecting the highest inflation in Britain in four decades are unaffordable and would lead to more price hikes, which would raise interest rates and mortgage payments.

Since the summer of 2022, some 500,000 workers, majority of them in the public sector, have gone on strike. This has increased the pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to settle the conflicts and reduce the impact on essential public services like trains and schools.

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Nurses to call off strike if Sunak makes fresh pay offer. 
 
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While stressing that there would be disruption, health minister Steve Barclay urged people to keep using the emergency services and showing up for appointments unless they had been cancelled.

"Despite contingency measures in place, strikes by ambulance and nursing unions this week will inevitably cause further delays for patients who already face longer waits due to the Covid backlogs," he said in a statement.

"I have held constructive talks with the trade unions on pay and affordability and continue to urge them to call off the strikes."

The National Health Service (NHS), once a source of pride for the majority of Britons, is under enormous pressure due to the millions of people on waiting lists for surgeries and the hundreds of patients who are denied immediate emergency care each month.

Also watch |&nbsp;Sunak government under fire over strikes in UK

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A decade of low compensation has caused tens of thousands of nurses to quit their jobs – 25,000 in the past year alone — with detrimental consequences on patient care due to the acute staffing shortages, according to the spokesperson from&nbsp;the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), who spoke to Reuters.&nbsp;

Although both parties had been in negotiations for weeks without coming to an agreement, the RCN first requested a salary increase of five per cent over inflation and then suggested it might meet the government "halfway."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an escalating pay dispute, tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance workers have staged Britain's largest-ever health workers' strike on Monday (February 6), the health minister warning that this will put further strain on the National Health Service (NHS).

In an escalating pay dispute, tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance workers have staged Britain's largest-ever health workers' strike on Monday (February 6), the health minister warning that this will put further strain on the National Health Service (NHS). The largest strike in the NHS's 75-year history included both nurses and ambulance personnel after they had been striking separately on and off since late last year. Stephen Powis, England's top physician who spoke to Reuters, said that this week's strike action—during which physiotherapists will also walk out on Thursday (February 9) —would likely be the most disruptive so far. The government claims that health workers' demands for salary reflecting the highest inflation in Britain in four decades are unaffordable and would lead to more price hikes, which would raise interest rates and mortgage payments. Since the summer of 2022, some 500,000 workers, majority of them in the public sector, have gone on strike. This has increased the pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to settle the conflicts and reduce the impact on essential public services like trains and schools. NHS stages biggest-ever nursing strike, calls on UK Prime Minister #RishiSunak to intervene. Nurses to call off strike if Sunak makes fresh pay offer. WION correspondent @AlexonTV joins @alysonle from London with the latest For more videos, visit: https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J pic.twitter.com/dgby6P2uY0 — WION (@WIONews) February 6, 2023 × While stressing that there would be disruption, health minister Steve Barclay urged people to keep using the emergency services and showing up for appointments unless they had been cancelled. "Despite contingency measures in place, strikes by ambulance and nursing unions this week will inevitably cause further delays for patients who already face longer waits due to the Covid backlogs," he said in a statement. "I have held constructive talks with the trade unions on pay and affordability and continue to urge them to call off the strikes." The National Health Service (NHS), once a source of pride for the majority of Britons, is under enormous pressure due to the millions of people on waiting lists for surgeries and the hundreds of patients who are denied immediate emergency care each month. Also watch | Sunak government under fire over strikes in UK A decade of low compensation has caused tens of thousands of nurses to quit their jobs – 25,000 in the past year alone — with detrimental consequences on patient care due to the acute staffing shortages, according to the spokesperson from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), who spoke to Reuters. Although both parties had been in negotiations for weeks without coming to an agreement, the RCN first requested a salary increase of five per cent over inflation and then suggested it might meet the government "halfway." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Britain witnesses largest healthcare worker strikes in history of NHS

No end to UK's strike woes in Christmas and New Year season. Up to 100,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing hold the strike. Nurses strike for the second time to demand a pay rise.

WION Dispatch: NHS nurses begin second day-long strike

The UK Road, rail and immigration desk worker strikes are scheduled for the Christmas and New Year weekends. The British hospitality industry is gearing up for a rough festive period.

WION Fineprint | UK strikes to affect holiday season

UK braces for a series of strikes this month, this week UK nurses are set to go on strike hitting already stretched hospitals. Watch this video to know more.

Britain braces for winter of strike action as nurses walk out

UK ministers refused to hold any negotiation talks over pay in return for nursing unions' offer to suspend the strikes planned, saying that the government cannot amend awards decided for NHS staff by the independent pay body.&nbsp;

While speaking to Sky News, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Sunday said that the health secretary is willing to hold talks with the unions about how the performance and working conditions of NHS can be improved and not about the pay demand.

He said, “Of course, the health secretary wants to talk to the profession about how we can make the job better, how we can improve the NHS performance for everybody. But ultimately pay is decided by an independent pay body.”

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-uk-braces-for-a-strike-full-winter-rcn-offers-to-suspend-strikes-if-govt-agrees-to-negotiate-541957">As UK braces for a 'strike-full' winter, RCN offers to suspend strikes if govt agrees to negotiate</a>

“The point is, meetings are different from pay negotiations. Ultimately, independent bodies are there for a reason, to take the politics out of this kind of stuff. And we respect the judgment they have made, and we’re implementing it,” he added.

Wes Streeting of the Labour party called the ministers “irresponsible”, saying they are looking to blame the striking staff for the NHSa crisis and not finding a solution.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen, over the weekend, had made the offer to "press pause" on the strikes if serious talks can be held with Health Secretary Steve Barclay.

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For the first time in 106 years of the union's history, UK nurses will be walking out on a strike this week, which they insist is the "last resort” to press for their pay demands.

The one-day stoppage will be held by the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) 100,000 members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland after they rejected the pay offer of the government.

The RCN said that they will be able to protect intensive care and high-dependency units, chemotherapy, neonatal intensive care, dialysis and paediatric intensive care.&nbsp;

It added that they will have Christmas staffing levels in other services. Accident and emergency staff nurse Mark Boothroyd said that the crisis has reached a tipping point.

"Workloads are horrendous. Nurses are burnt out, can't provide safe service to patients. We are seeing harm to patients and patients put at risk every day," he said.

RCN member and Unite union's staff representative Boothroyd said that the stoppage to be held on Thursday and on December 20 is aimed at restoring "quality of care for patients".

Britain has been battling a cost-of-living crisis and the prices of energy, food and housing have been soaring. The industrial action of RCN is part of increasing dissent among private and public sector employees.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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UK ministers refused to hold any negotiation talks over pay in return for nursing unions' offer to suspend the strikes planned, saying that the government cannot amend awards decided for NHS staff by the independent pay body.

UK ministers refused to hold any negotiation talks over pay in return for nursing unions' offer to suspend the strikes planned, saying that the government cannot amend awards decided for NHS staff by the independent pay body. While speaking to Sky News, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Sunday said that the health secretary is willing to hold talks with the unions about how the performance and working conditions of NHS can be improved and not about the pay demand. He said, “Of course, the health secretary wants to talk to the profession about how we can make the job better, how we can improve the NHS performance for everybody. But ultimately pay is decided by an independent pay body.” ALSO READ| As UK braces for a 'strike-full' winter, RCN offers to suspend strikes if govt agrees to negotiate “The point is, meetings are different from pay negotiations. Ultimately, independent bodies are there for a reason, to take the politics out of this kind of stuff. And we respect the judgment they have made, and we’re implementing it,” he added. Wes Streeting of the Labour party called the ministers “irresponsible”, saying they are looking to blame the striking staff for the NHSa crisis and not finding a solution. RCN general secretary Pat Cullen, over the weekend, had made the offer to "press pause" on the strikes if serious talks can be held with Health Secretary Steve Barclay. ALSO READ| UK trade Secretary Kemi in Delhi from today for FTA talks For the first time in 106 years of the union's history, UK nurses will be walking out on a strike this week, which they insist is the "last resort” to press for their pay demands. The one-day stoppage will be held by the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) 100,000 members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland after they rejected the pay offer of the government. The RCN said that they will be able to protect intensive care and high-dependency units, chemotherapy, neonatal intensive care, dialysis and paediatric intensive care. It added that they will have Christmas staffing levels in other services. Accident and emergency staff nurse Mark Boothroyd said that the crisis has reached a tipping point. "Workloads are horrendous. Nurses are burnt out, can't provide safe service to patients. We are seeing harm to patients and patients put at risk every day," he said. RCN member and Unite union's staff representative Boothroyd said that the stoppage to be held on Thursday and on December 20 is aimed at restoring "quality of care for patients". Britain has been battling a cost-of-living crisis and the prices of energy, food and housing have been soaring. The industrial action of RCN is part of increasing dissent among private and public sector employees. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Ministers rebuff union's offer to negotiate over pay to suspend NHS strikes

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