Nursing union votes to accept latest Welsh government pay offer

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN Wales) has today ended its dispute with the Welsh government after its members voted to accept the latest NHS pay offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nurses across Wales said they had been left with “no choice” other than to stage several rounds of industrial action over the last year in a bid to secure a fair pay deal and improved working conditions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The union confirmed that no further strikes will take place after 52 per cent of union members voted in the consultative ballot to accept the most recent offer from the Welsh government, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This acceptance means that RCN members in Wales are no longer in dispute with the Welsh government regarding the pay awards for 2022/23 and 2023/24. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The non-pay elements in this offer set out to improve nursing staff’s working lives, giving them improved work/life balance, as well as ensuring safe conditions for high standard patient care and professional development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The RCN will now focus on 2024/25 pay in its continuing discussions with Welsh government as well as working to implement the non-pay elements as quickly as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley, said: “Our members made the incredibly difficult decision to go on strike, a situation that nurses across Wales never imagined that they would find themselves in. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​”

“But their collective resolve and bravery to stand up for their patients and the future of the NHS led to repeated improved offers from the Welsh government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​”

“As a result of these improvements, the ballot outcome indicates that our members’ perseverance has paid off and they feel this offer goes some way to improving working conditions and the safety of patients. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​”

“Nurses are very clear with me that this result is only one small step in the right direction, and it must be built on in the pay awards to come. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​”

“RCN Wales will be holding the Welsh government to account to implement their commitment of pay restoration to make up for years of pay freezes and to implement the improvements in this deal for better working conditions for nurses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​”

“The Welsh government must now deliver on its promises.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​