NHS Strikes Escalate as Government Refuses Concessions

NHS leaders are warning that a high-risk government strategy to face down unions and tough out a renewed wave of strikes in England could put patient safety at risk. The British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have refused to back down, with the RCN's general secretary, Pat Cullen, stating that further strike action is likely until Christmas if a ballot is successful. Meanwhile, the government is awaiting ballots from two other health unions, Unite and the GMB, before deciding its next move.

Key Takeaways:

• The RCN's members narrowly rejected a 5% pay rise offer, with a 54% to 46% vote against it, leading to further strike action.
• The BMA has ruled out combined strike action for the next nurses' strike, starting on 30 April, but is holding out the possibility of joint strikes if the disputes drag on.
• NHS leaders have expressed grave worries about the possibility of a joint strike, as well as the RCN's proposal to escalate action, which could put patient safety and dignity at risk.
• Unison, which represents the greatest number of NHS staff, supported the rejected pay offer by a margin of 74% to 26%.
• The government appears ready to take a tough line, with No 10 sources saying that while the RCN's members rejected the pay deal only narrowly, they risked further strike action if they did not accept it.
• The health secretary, Steve Barclay, has offered new talks but called the rejected pay offer a "fair and reasonable settlement", showing no signs of movement from the government side.
• The BMA has had no contact with the government since it asked the industrial relations conciliation service Acas to try to help find a compromise.

Statistics:

• 96-hour strike by junior doctors to end on Saturday morning (BBC)
• 74% to 26% margin by which Unison supported the rejected pay offer (Source: Government source)
• 54% to 46% vote against 5% pay rise offer by RCN's members (BBC)
• 30 April: start date of next nurses' strike (BBC)
• Uncharted territory: Matthew Taylor, chief executive of NHS Confederation, on the possibility of combined industrial action (Source: Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday)
• £1,000: cash payment being offered to nurses as part of the 5% pay rise deal (Source: RCN)

Sources:

• BBC (BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Times Radio, Sky News)
• Government source (No 10 sources)
• Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
• British Medical Association (BMA)
• Unison
• NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers
• Times Radio
• Sky News