Royal College of Nursing: Nurses could strike until Christmas if no deal reached with government over pay

The Royal College of Nursing’s leader has warned of more strikes until Christmas and that the nurses would not pause a 48-hour strike in England over the first May bank holiday. In an interview with the BBC, RCN’s general secretary Pat Cullen said the government needed to put more money on the table.

The government has offered a 5% pay rise in 2023/24 and one-payment of at least £1,655, which Conservative party chairman Greg Hands described as “fair and reasonable”. Unison had on Friday, accepted the pay deal with nearly three-quarters (74%) of members voted in favour. 

Asked if this was a final offer, Mr Hands told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg the government would need to see what other health service unions involved in the pay dispute decided in their ballots, pointing out it had already been accepted by Unison members.