Posted: Mon 16th Jan 2023

Nurses in Wales “left with no choice” as further strike dates announced

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 16th, 2023

Nurses across Wales will take further industrial action in February if there is no progress in pay deal negotiations. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It comes after the Welsh government’s offer of a one-off payment was branded as falling short of what NHS workers need and deserve by unions. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A meeting between health unions and Health Minister Minister Eluned last week led to warnings of further industrial action – along with criticism that the Welsh government was “not negotiating seriously” on pay. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This evening the Royal College of Nursing in Wales (RCN) has announced further strike action will take place for 12 hours on both 6 and 7
February if progress in negotiations hasn’t been made by the of the month, ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​



The announcement to escalate action even further comes after RCN Wales has repeatedly urged the Welsh government to find a resolution to
our dispute on, NHS pay for this financial year 2022-23, and safe staffing levels. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

According to RCN the value of salaries for experienced nurses today are 20 per cent lower in real terms due to successive below-inflation pay awards since 2010 resulting in over 3000 vacancies for registered nurses in the NHS in Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Director, RCN Wales, Helen Whyley, said: “I hoped that the Welsh Government would change their approach and come back to the table to negotiate with the RCN seriously on NHS pay and offer a substantive and restorative pay award. This has not happened to date. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Their offer of a non-consolidated one-off payment, funded by monies ‘found down the back of the sofa’ shows the Welsh Government’s disrespect for the crisis in the nursing workforce and a lack of a real commitment to want to address it. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“RCN Wales members have been left without a choice, we will be taking strike action on February 6 and 7. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Nursing staff are striking for patient safety, for the future of nursing, and to save the NHS in Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We stand beside our members in their call to our government here in Wales for fair pay. Enough really is enough.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​



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