Nurses are to strike in Wales next month after members chose to reject the latest NHS pay offer from the Welsh Government. Nurses union, the Royal College of Nurses, balloted its members in the two weeks prior to May 10 over a revised offer from the Welsh Government which was described as “significant” and "final", but members have narrowly decided to reject the offer.
The new offer, which took several weeks to reach, included a one-off 3% payment, backdated to last year, and a 5% offer from the start of April. The government said the package offered meant those at the bottom of Band 5, which includes nurses and other health care professionals just starting their careers in NHS Wales, would have received a total pay increase of more than 17% for the financial years for 2022-23 and 2023-24.
It would have seen starting salaries at £28,834. Lowest paid NHS staff would have received a pay increase of more than 26% over 2022-23 and 2023-24, which meant a starting salary of £22,720. You can get more health news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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But 53.21% of RCN members voted to reject the offer, and strikes will now take place on June 6 and 7, and again on July 12 and 13, the RCN said. The union said it was “seeking to urgently re-enter negotiations in light of this result”. Nursing professionals across Wales over two days in December protested about poor wages and chronic staff shortages. Since then negotiations have been ongoing.
Helen Whyley, RCN Wales Director, said: “Nursing staff took the momentous decision to strike for fair pay and safe staffing levels. We need a substantial offer from the Welsh Government that reflects the magnitude of that decision. Today, we have heard our members loud and clear, and this latest decision only makes us more determined as a college to secure a meaningful and acceptable pay offer for the future of the profession.
“I have asked for pay talks to be opened immediately with the Minister for Health and Social Services so that our members do not need to return to picket lines. Strike action is always a last resort, but we have been pushed here yet again. If talks aren’t forthcoming, we won’t hesitate to strike, with stronger strike action than we’ve seen before.”
In April, Wales' Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, called the offer “final”. Ms Morgan said negotiations had been tough, but she was "very grateful for the positive attitude taken in discussions in arriving at this best and final offer".
"These have been tough negotiations. We have been very open about the difficult financial position we are in as Welsh Government. That is further complicated by the large proportion of the Welsh Government budget that is used to fund the NHS in Wales and the proportion of that NHS budget that pays for wages. We lack the flexibility enjoyed by UK Government in terms of both money available and restrictive financial rules.
"Hard choices have been required to fund this pay offer and we have drawn on our reserves and underspends from across government to put this offer together. Using this money to increase pay now means we can’t use it for other purposes – but we are confident that this is the right thing to do."
In March, health unions, including UNISON, agreed a 1.5% consolidated pay rise backdated to April, 2022, as well as a 1.5% one-off payment. This was in addition to a £1,400 pay increase for 2022/23. UNISON Cymru/Wales last month recommended that workers accept the latest offer.
Head of bargaining and campaigns, Jess Turner, said then: “It has taken months of talks in Wales to achieve this new improved pay offer for staff. Whilst we know they deserve more; this offer is a significant step forward and the best that could be achieved through negotiation.”
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