Ministers have been warned NHS strikes will be prolonged if "proper pay talks" are not held. Unions have told the Government that failing to hold pay talks with every organisation representing striking NHS workers in England is “unacceptable, ill-considered and has potentially perilous consequences”.
Officials representing 13 health unions have written to Health Secretary Steve Barclay raising concerns about the way the pay dispute has so far been handled. Talks were held last week with the Royal College of Nursing but other unions said they should have been involved too.
The group of 13 unions includes four – Unison, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, GMB and Unite – that are currently involved in industrial action over pay and staffing. The unions warned that only holding talks with the RCN risks prolonging the strikes.
