Nurses have rejected the Government’s offer of a 5.5% pay rise, as announced by Wales Online. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England overwhelmingly turned down the deal by two-thirds, in a significant move that saw a record turnout of around 145,000 individuals. The pay rise proposal was put forward by the Chancellor at the end of July, shortly after Labour’s victory in the general election.
The RCN stated that the turnout for this rejection surpassed the participation levels seen in two previous statutory ballots for industrial action conducted by the union in 2022 and 2023. The first of these ballots had allowed for six months of potential strike action by nursing staff. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, RCN general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger stated, “We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the determination of nursing staff to stand up for themselves, their patients, and the NHS they believe in.”
Professor Ranger further added, “Many will support the new Government’s health and care agenda as set out in recent weeks and fully recognise the diagnosis of a failing NHS. Working closely with all other professionals, nursing staff are the lifeblood of the service.” She emphasised the importance of adequate numbers of nursing staff who feel valued to raise standards and reform the NHS effectively.
Following the rejection by nurses, other health unions have accepted the 5.5% pay deal for the year 2024/25. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the challenges faced by nurses in recent years and expressed the government’s commitment to working alongside NHS staff to address the crisis and create a sustainable future for the healthcare system.
The rejection of the pay offer comes on the heels of a recent vote by junior doctors to accept a multi-year pay rise, marking the end of their prolonged dispute. The decision by nurses to turn down the pay rise was announced during Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ keynote speech at the Labour Party conference. Reeves highlighted that her government was the first in 14 years to deliver a substantial pay rise to millions of public sector workers.
The rejection by nurses underscores their concerns about feeling undervalued and the urgent need for tangible improvements in staffing levels, patient care, and career progression within the NHS. The call for action over rhetoric resonates strongly with nursing staff who are seeking significant changes to transform their profession and enhance care for the public.