Nurses Reject 3.6% Pay Award, Paving Way for Potential NHS Strikes
Nurses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have overwhelmingly rejected the government's 3.6% pay award for this year, with a large majority voting against accepting the offer in an indicative vote run by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
The RCN had previously described the 3.6% figure as "grotesque" and said it would be "entirely swallowed up by inflation." The union also noted that it was less than what doctors and teachers received.
Well-placed sources indicate that the results of the union's online survey of 345,000 members will show a "clear" rejection of the award, increasing the possibility of further strikes in different parts of the UK.
This comes as resident doctors in England are on strike for a 29% pay rise, while NHS staff in England belonging to the GMB union have also rejected their 3.6% award.
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, has warned that continued disruption could have a "snowball effect" for patients and staff if doctors continue to strike until the end of the year and other unions stage walkouts.
The RCN says nurses have seen their pay eroded by a quarter since 2010/11 due to low pay awards and rising inflation. Wes Streeting, health secretary, announced in May that nurses would receive a 3.6% pay increase for 2025-26.
The RCN will not stage a legal ballot for industrial action but will instead ask ministers to discuss changes to nurses' terms and conditions, including better financial support for nursing students and changes to Agenda for Change.
