The nurses' union could accept a 10% pay rise - about half of its initial demand

The Royal College of Nursing may be ready to accept a 10% pay rise, having previously demanded 19%, after union leader Pat Cullen asked the government to meet them "halfway"
It is believed that nurses are ready to accept a 10% salary increase (
Image: PA)

Nurses may be ready to take a 10% pay rise, with their union leader calling on the government to meet them 'halfway'.

Royal College for Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen has previously said the union's demand for a 19% raise, dismissed by the government as 'unaffordable', is just a 'point of departure", and that it would put any new offer to its members.

It is understood the union could agree to a pay rise of around 10% - if Tory ministers finally open wage talks.

But Health Secretary Steve Barclay refuses to do so. Instead, the government said yesterday it was moving on to 2023/23 wage talks - although 2022/23 is still unresolved.

Thousands of nurses walked off the job on December 15 and 20, and the MRC said its members would strike again on January 18 and 19 unless negotiations are opened by the Conservative government.

Nurses have previously demanded a 19% wage increase (
Picture:
PENNSYLVANIA)
The planned action would take place at more NHS employers in England than previous strikes, rising from 44 to 55 trusts, according to the NCR.

In an interview with Times Radio's Past Imperfect podcast, reported by The Times, Ms Cullen said: "There's a rhetoric that says the Royal College of Nursing is unrealistic, they're looking for something that's totally unachievable. , it is looking for 19%.

"Now, I could sit here all day and tell you that nurses' salaries have dropped 20% over the past decade. Do I believe these nurses are entitled (at 19%)? Absolutely, I believe they are entitled to 19%.

“But we also understand the economic climate that we work in. And what I would say to (Health Secretary) Steve Barclay and the Prime Minister is to walk into a room and meet me halfway -way here and do the decent thing for these nurses.”

Politics Jan 6, 2023 0 37 Add to Reading List

The nurses' union could accept a 10% pay rise - about half of its initial demand

The Royal College of Nursing may be ready to accept a 10% pay rise, having previously demanded 19%, after union leader Pat Cullen asked the government to meet them "halfway"

Nurses would be willing to take a 10% pay rise

It is believed that nurses are ready to accept a 10% salary increase (

Image: PA)

Nurses may be ready to take a 10% pay rise, with their union leader calling on the government to meet them 'halfway'.

Royal College for Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen has previously said the union's demand for a 19% raise, dismissed by the government as 'unaffordable', is just a 'point of departure", and that it would put any new offer to its members.

It is understood the union could agree to a pay rise of around 10% - if Tory ministers finally open wage talks.

But Health Secretary Steve Barclay refuses to do so. Instead, the government said yesterday it was moving on to 2023/23 wage talks - although 2022/23 is still unresolved.

Thousands of nurses walked off the job on December 15 and 20, and the MRC said its members would strike again on January 18 and 19 unless negotiations are opened by the Conservative government.

Nurses have already demanded a 19% pay rise

Nurses have previously demanded a 19% wage increase (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

The planned action would take place at more NHS employers in England than previous strikes, rising from 44 to 55 trusts, according to the NCR.

In an interview with Times Radio's Past Imperfect podcast, reported by The Times, Ms Cullen said: "There's a rhetoric that says the Royal College of Nursing is unrealistic, they're looking for something that's totally unachievable. , it is looking for 19%.

"Now, I could sit here all day and tell you that nurses' salaries have dropped 20% over the past decade. Do I believe these nurses are entitled (at 19%)? Absolutely, I believe they are entitled to 19%.

“But we also understand the economic climate that we work in. And what I would say to (Health Secretary) Steve Barclay and the Prime Minister is to walk into a room and meet me halfway -way here and do the decent thing for these nurses.”