Head of the nurses’ union WILL meet the health minister as the dispute continues – but says it won’t be ‘about negotiations’ as she seeks a double-digit pay rise for members
- Pat Cullen told members that the discussion is “not about denials.”
The head of the Royal College of Nursing will meet the health minister as she pursues a double-digit pay rise for nurses.
Pat Cullen told members at the union’s annual conference yesterday that her meeting with Steve Barclay is “not about negotiations.” Instead, she will explain why nurses turned down a wage settlement in the run-up to another strike vote, which starts May 23 and closes June 23.
The RCN has warned that the strikes could continue until Christmas, forcing thousands more surgeries and appointments to be cancelled.
Ms Cullen said at the Brighton conference: ‘If you give the college another six-month mandate for strike action across the English NHS, the government will have to act again.’
She said the government may be looking into the conference, adding, “I’ll tell you why… Who emailed me at nine last night?”
Head of the Royal College of Nursing Pat Cullen (pictured) told members yesterday at the union’s annual conference that her meeting with Steve Barclay
Ms Cullen will explain to the health secretary why nurses have rejected a pay scheme in the run-up to another strike vote, which starts on May 23 and closes on June 23. Pictured: Nurses protesting outside St. Thomas’ Hospital in London
To the cheers of the audience, she said, “The Minister of Health wants to see me. Colleagues, this is not about negotiations, but it’s important that I tell him again why many of you voted against the wage offer.’
A Ministry of Health and Social Care source said Mr Barclay is happy to listen to nurses’ concerns, but stressed that the current pay deal is ‘final’ and negotiations ‘will not be reopened’, adding: ‘The minister of Health wants to work constructively with trade unions on making the NHS a better place to work.’
Yesterday’s conference also heard claims that NHS trusts are using students as unpaid care assistants and hiring cheaper nurses – who have less training than registered nurses – to fill gaps in rosters.
With around 80 nurses leaving the profession each week and 45,000 vacancies in England, the lower skilled workers would take on the workload, but for less pay.