Nursing staff are set to vote on strike action again later this month.
The Health Secretary has asked to meet the head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) just days after she called for a “double-digit” pay rise for nurses.
Pat Cullen told delegates at the union’s annual Congress today that she received an email from Steve Barclay last night requesting the meeting.
Ms Cullen explained, “The Health Secretary wants to see me. Colleagues, this is not about negotiations, but it is important that I go and tell him again why many of you voted to reject the pay offer.”
Earlier this week the union called for a “double-digit” pay rise for NHS workers after rejecting a 5% pay settlement earlier this year.
In her keynote speech, Ms Cullen also spoke directly to the Prime Minister calling on him to resolve the NHS pay dispute by the NHS’s 75th Birthday letter this year.
Six more months of strike action.
RCN members will be asked to vote on strike again later this month. If the ballot is passed again, nursing staff could be on the picket lines until Christmas unless a deal is signed.
Speaking today, Ms Cullen said “In seven days from now, nursing staff in England will receive fresh ballot papers on the question of whether to continue with strike action for up to six more months.
“If you give the College another six-month mandate for strike action, across the whole of England’s NHS, then government will be forced to act once more.
“Nobody wants to see twice as many nurses take strike action. Or twice as many hospitals affected by a strike.
“Prime Minister, you did the right thing to open negotiations with me in February. Before the 75th birthday of the NHS this July, let’s get this job finished.”
Ms Cullen’s speech was met with cheers from the audience.
