Nearly half a million NHS staff will hold a strike ballot 'immediately' following the governments unveiling of a 'pitiful' real-terms pay cut.
Last night, the Royal College of Nursing's council met and 'immediately and unanimously' decided to ballot their members, its chief has revealed. This news comes as teachers across the United Kingdom are also considering strike action, with posties, railway workers and other professions already holding walkouts over pay and working conditions this summer.
The Mirror reports that ministers recently announced a 4 per cent pay rise for nurses in the NHS, while CIP inflation today hits 9.4 per cent - the highest in 40 years, with RPI inflation exceeding higher still. Pat Cullen, who is the general secretary of the RCN, told the BBC it would mean a 5.5 per cent rise from £25,655 to £27,055 for 70 per cent of her nurse members - which equates to around £27 a week.
