The workers are asking for wage increases, but the government does not share their request
Nursing staff of the National Health System in Britain are today going on strike for the second time in a few days, demanding pay rises, while the government’s stance remains inflexible, despite mobilizations in many sectors.
After the strike last Thursdays, the first that has been announced by the nurses’ union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), since its establishment, 106 years ago, the nursing staff continues its mobilizations. The protests involve nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland demanding pay rises after years of cuts to the chronically underfunded NHS.
In Britain, where inflation has topped 10%, nursing staff have been reduced to a symbol of a population suffering from a cost-of-living crisis that feels under-supported by the government.
Britain is facing a strike wave this winter, with strikes paralyzing the railways and post office and airports bracing for disruptions over the Christmas period. Ambulance crews and border guards have also announced strikes.
Although Britons criticize some of these strikes which cause problems and often disrupt their Christmas plans, nurses enjoy widespread support among citizens. This is explained because they were on the front line of the fight against covid-19 and because they are suffering the consequences of the crisis that has been affecting the public health system for years.
According to a YouGov poll published on Sunday in the Sunday Times, almost two-thirds of Britons support nurses and half back a strike by ambulance crews, while just 37% support rail strikes.
THE popularity of the strike movement of nursing staff is putting pressure on the government, which has so far appeared intransigent, refusing to offer a raise of more than 4% proposed for this year by the organization of independent experts.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was in Latvia on Monday, defended his government’s “responsible and fair” approach. “As far as the salary is concerned, because the issue is difficult we have an independent process,” he added.
The British economy could not stand a bigger pay rise for nursing staff, Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who the union has accused of behaving in a “bunch” during negotiations, has repeatedly said.
“They don’t want to talk to us about the elephant in the room: pay,” Christina McAnea, general secretary of the Unison union, told the BBC on Monday.
“The only reason we’re continuing (the strikes) is because we have nobody to talk to and that’s really the problem,” RCN England director Patricia Marquis told Times Radio.
“Unfortunately, if there is no progress, our members have voted to strike and this order is in effect for six months,” he added, confirming the nursing staff’s determination to continue their strike action if necessary.
But in the face of the risk of continuing to hold patients hostage and the popularity of the strike movement, Conservative unity has fractured in recent days.
Some members of the government are calling on her to be more negotiating and in any case to have a more constructive dialogue with the nurses, putting forward various ideas, such as requesting a new recommendation from the expert group.
Sunak’s government does not currently appear ready to change its stance and is trying to limit the impact of strike action by using 750 military personnel to replace ambulance crews who are on strike tomorrow. Also 625 military personnel will take over the duties of border guards.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
