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Downing Street ‘considering one-off payment for nurses’ to end strikes after previously rejecting idea | Politics News


Downing Street is reportedly considering a one-time payment for nurses after dismissing the idea before Christmas.

About six weeks ago, Steve Barclay, the health minister, floated the idea of ​​giving nurses a single payment to cover the increased cost of living this financial year, which ends in April, but Downing Street and the Treasury Department rejected it, Sky News understands.

It’s understood that Number 10 is currently fuming with the idea as nurses prepare for strike action on January 18 and 19 after going out for the first time before Christmas.

Unions say meeting ‘an insult’ will last ‘for just 45 minutes’ – live political updates

The Royal College of Nursing said it would accept a pay increase of about 10% – down from the original request of 19% – if the government can meet it halfway.

The union has said it will stop strike action if the government discusses pay for this financial year, but ministers have said it has all been decided long ago and they only want to talk about pay. for next year.

RCN England director Patricia Marquis told Sky News: “Of course, we would be interested to hear what Steve Barclay has to say.

“But unless we can talk about this year’s salary award, sadly this will not resolve the dispute we currently have with the government.”

Read more: Who is on strike and when this month?

Members of the RCN pictured on the fence outside St Thomas' Hospital, central London, on December 20
Picture:
RCN nurses went on strike before Christmas and will return to work on January 18 and 19

Health union bosses will meet with the health secretary today to discuss pay and conditions in a major breakthrough for workers after the government initially said pay review bodies Independents will negotiate salaries, not ministers.

The government is also meeting with teachers’ union leaders and training ahead of further strikes by those industries.

An agreement is not expected to be agreed today for any of the unions, but the fact that they are meeting is an important step forward.

Junior doctor – any doctor below consulting level – yes Start voting today on whether a “comprehensive walk” should be undertaken in March, with results expected by the end of February.

Around 45,000 members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are on the ballot as they call for higher pay, having been excluded from this year’s NHS pay hike as their contracts are subject to a multiple-wage agreement. , which was agreed in 2019 and ended in March, that gave them a 2% increase for 2022/2023.

The BMA says young doctors in the UK have experienced a real pay cut over the past 15 years, equivalent to a 26.1 per cent drop since 2008/9.

The union confirmed it was not invited to wage negotiations today with ministers, who they said had recommended them again for a 2% pay rise next year.

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