Nurses in England say they will go on strike for two days next month in a historic sign of defiance amid a dispute over wages.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced on Friday that strikes would take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 15 and 20 December, the first time they had organized a national industrial action. Strike plans are currently on hold in Scotland.
The government has said calls for a 5% wage increase above inflation are “unaffordable”, arguing that this would result in annual costs of $12 billion.
The strike is being coordinated across healthcare with Unison, a labor group, which is currently electing another 350,000 employees. Voting closes on November 25. Ambulance workers are also voting in an industrial action that could lead to their biggest strike in more than 30 years.
“My offer of formal negotiations was rejected and ministers went on strike,” said Pat Cullen, secretary general and chief executive of RCN. “They have the power and means to stop this by starting serious talks addressing our dispute.”
The UK government is planning a minimum service level to keep the National Health Service operational.
“Our priority is to maintain patient safety. The NHS has tried and tested plans to minimize disruptions and ensure emergency services continue to function,” Health Secretary Steve Barclay said.
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