Unison workers accept latest pay offer while junior doctors strike for fourth day
The RCN is preparing for its members to vote against the government's offer, ITV News deputy political editor Anushka Asthana reports
Unison members have voted to accept the latest pay offer from the government while the UK's largest nursing union, the Royal College of Nursing, is widely expected to reject it.
It comes as junior doctors stage their fourth day of strikes in England, with widespread disruption to the NHS and around 350,000 operations and appointments cancelled.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Unison, which represent nurses and other health workers, have voted on a proposed deal which includes a 5% pay rise this year and a cash payment for last year.
Almost three quarters of Unison members voted to accept the deal, with 74% of the 152,329 votes cast in favour of acceptance.
Voting for RCN members closed at 9am on Friday, with the results expected to be announced later today.
Deputy political editor Anushka Asthana reports that sources have told ITV News the RCN is preparing for its members to vote against the government's offer of a one-off payment of around £2,500 and a 5% salary increase in 2023/24.
ITV News has also heard that nurses are planning further strikes, potentially on the same days as any future junior doctor walkouts, to maximise impact.
It comes as around 47,000 junior doctors continue their four-day walkout, estimated to have resulted in as many as 350,000 appointments and operations being cancelled.
An RCN member who voted to reject the offer told ITV News the government's pay deal was "a kick in the teeth".
Paul Kenyon, a clinical nurse specialist, said:" Ultimately for me it just didn't feel like the offer was good enough. I actually felt it was a little bit insulting, given everything that we've done over the last three years..."
He added: "The government's response has been, we'll clap for you, thank you, but you need to struggle like everybody else."
The ballots close as junior doctors from the British Medical Association (BMA) in England stage the final day of a 96-hour walkout.
The union's demand for a 35% pay rise has led to an unrelenting deadlock with the government, which conciliation service Acas hopes to help ease.
It comes as the (BMA) junior doctors committee co-chairman Dr Robert Laurenson insisted he is “still working” while on holiday during the NHS walkouts, but said he is “sorry” if striking colleagues feel his absence has undermined their cause.
Dr Laurenson made headlines by taking a holiday to attend the wedding amid the junior doctors’ strikes, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying he was “surprised to read” Dr Laurenson was on holiday.
“I can see that you feel undermined and I am really sorry my actions have contributed to that,” Dr Laurenson reportedly wrote in an online forum.
He said he was invited to the wedding in autumn 2022, adding: “I am always responsive on my phone to the needs of my role at the BMA including being in hospital strike WhatsApp groups across the country to answer queries.
“I am determined and committed to doctors and winning.
“Me being physically in a different location shouldn’t change anything.
“I have an amazing co-chair. We have a negotiation team that doesn’t need me and has strict parameters.
“I am still in touch, still attending meetings, and still working.”
On Thursday, Home Office minister Chris Philp suggested junior doctors must suspend all strikes for the government to consider entering talks facilitated by conciliation service Acas in a bid to end the pay dispute.
Acas said it is “well prepared and ready to help” and the BMA is urging ministers to get round the table to try to break the deadlock.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it remains open to a role for Acas but reiterated talks cannot take place until junior doctors drop their demand for a 35% pay increase and end the strike.
On Wednesday, Mr Sunak said he wanted to find a “reasonable compromise” with junior doctors.
The chairman of the BMA council, Professor Philip Banfield, said: “In the face of a constant refusal from the Health Secretary to agree to further talks and put forward a credible offer which could bring an end to the dispute, we believe that working with Acas provides the most realistic chance of a successful outcome to the negotiations.
“The BMA has no preconditions to talks and has consistently sought to negotiate with the Government.”
Hospital bosses have expressed concern about keeping patients safe as they struggle to secure cover for overnight junior doctor shifts during strikes.
The health service’s top doctor, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, has warned that the situation in the NHS will “become more challenging each day this strike progresses”.
During the strikes, staff who are still working have prioritised emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures to ensure safe care for those in life-threatening situations.
This means hundreds of thousands of appointments and operations have been rescheduled.
The BMA claims junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because rises have been below inflation.
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