The union could be willing to accept a pay rise of around 10%.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has hinted that nurses could half their pay demands to get a deal signed.
In an interview with Times Radio’s Past Imperfect podcast, union boss Pat Cullen said that while nurses deserve an above-inflation rise, she understands “the economic climate”.
The union’s demand for a restorative 19% pay rise has been repeatedly dubbed as “unaffordable” by the government.
Ms Cullen has now suggested the government meet the union halfway and that she would put any new offer to her members.
While there has been no official statement, it is being widely reported that the union could now be willing to accept a pay rise of around 10%.
The economic climate.
Ms Cullen said: “There is a rhetoric out there that says the Royal College of Nursing is unrealistic, it’s looking for something that’s totally unachievable, it’s looking for 19%.
“Now, I could sit here all day and tell you nurses’ pay has dropped by 20% over the last decade.
“Do I believe those nurses are entitled (to 19%)? …Absolutely, I believe they’re entitled to 19%.”
Ms Cullen added, “But we also understand the economic climate that we’re working in.
“And what I would say to [Health Secretary] Steve Barclay and to the Prime Minister is get into a room and meet me halfway here and do the decent thing for these nurses.”
As it stands now, two days of planned RCN strikes in NHS workplaces across England will go ahead on 18 and 19 January.
