Health and nursing unions are set to continue with strike action despite holding talks with the Welsh Government over a pay dispute. Health minister Eluned Morgan held talks with nine unions on Thursday to try to avoid further NHS strikes in Wales.
The GMB, which represents ambulance workers, said Ms Morgan told unions any money put forward to resolve the dispute would be non-consolidated rather than permanent following reports that ministers are considering a one-off payment to health workers.
The union's south west and Wales representative Nathan Holman said it would "not accept a one-off payment" which it said would "not be sufficient to address the real problems with pay" in the industry. Nurses in Wales staged two days of industrial action on December 15 and 20 - the first time in history they have done so - in a row over low pay and chronic staff shortages. NHS staff in Wales have been offered a pay rise of between 4% and 5.5%, but unions are fighting for an increase closer to inflation, which is currently around 10%.
