The wave of industrial action sweeping across England continues this week and could even escalate without a breakthrough to bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.
The Royal College of Nursing in England will call out its members on Wednesday and Thursday, with the union warning that if progress is not made in negotiations by the end of January, the next set of strikes will include all eligible members in England for the first time. The Government continues to insist that pay claims are unaffordable and is sticking to the policy that wage rises should be decided by pay review bodies.
Health unions are refusing to submit any evidence to the NHS pay review body for the 2023/24 pay rise until the current dispute is resolved. GMB leaders meet today (Monday, Jan 16) to decide whether to call more strikes among their ambulance members because of the lack of progress in talks. A decision is likely to be announced later in the week.
