The disputes relate to the several staff groups on the Agenda for Change pay scale, as well as those on the junior doctor and consultant contracts; and are further divided by the devolved national NHS staff work in. In summer 2023 the disputes relating to Agenda for Change staff in England and in Scotland were essentially resolved, as was the dispute relating to junior doctors in Scotland.
Nurses strikes
The disputes commenced on 6 October 2022, when the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced their intention to ballot members for industrial action for the first time in their 106-year history in a dispute over a pay rise offer which is less than the 5% above inflation which the trade union says nurses should get.[1] Subsequently, Unison announced that they would ballot their members for solidarity industrial action across the wider publicly funded health services.[2] On 10 November, nurses and other medical personnel across the NHS voted to strike, under the Royal College of Nursing. The nurses stated this was due to failing wages, inflation, overwork, and underfunding caused by the UK cost of living crisis.[3][4][5]
Strike dates were announced at midnight on 25 November, with RCN members scheduled to engage in strike action between 08:00 and 20:00 on 15 and 20 December.[6] The Unison solidarity ballot for industrial action is ongoing.[citation needed] Strikes are also scheduled on 18 and 19 January 2023.[7] On 16 January 2023, the Royal College of Nursing announced a further two strike days for England and Wales on 6 and 7 February, which were described as being the biggest so far.[8]
Prime MinisterRishi Sunak said that the pay offer to nurses was "appropriate and fair".[10][11]The Times reported on 8 December that Sunak was preparing to restrict the rights of NHS workers to strike, including proposals to ban ambulance workers and paramedics from striking.[12]
Eluned Morgan, the Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh government, said she was "saddened" by the NHS strikes but that the Welsh government could not increase their pay offer without "substantial cuts to staffing and essential services" or an increase in investment from Westminster.[17]
On 14–16 December 2022 a poll for The Observer by Opinium found 60% of voters said they supported nurses going on strike, with 29% opposing the strikes.[18]
Last-minute talks on 20 December between Health SecretarySteve Barclay and union leaders fell through after the government refused to make a new pay offer.[24]
The GMB strikes planned for 28 December were called off on 23 December due to the "amazing public support" and to avoid causing "any additional anxiety" over Christmas.[25] The strike was rescheduled for 11 January 2023.[26]
On 18 January 2023, the GMB announced a further four strike days in February, including 6 February, a date that will coincide with one of the nurses strikes, creating the largest strike within the NHS so far.[27]
Responses
Will Quince, the Minister of State for Health, advised against "risky activity" or participating in contact sports during the strike.[28]Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, asked people to only ring 999 in life-threatening emergencies and to take "sensible steps to keep themselves and others safe", including drinking responsibly and checking up on vulnerable family members and neighbours.[29]
During 2022 the British Medical Association (BMA) announced a demand of pay increases to restore junior doctors' pay to match the real term pay levels of 2008.[32] According to the union, repeated pay freezes and pay-increases below the inflation level had resulted in real-term pay cuts of nearly 30% for junior doctors since 2008.[33] The BMA organized a strike ballot, the result of which was announced on 20 February 2023.[34] More than 98% of respondents supported strike action, and the BMA subsequently announced a 72-hour strike starting 13 March.[35] The strike had a significant disruptive impact, causing cancellations of an estimated 175000 appointments and procedures.[36]
Subsequent to the strike, BMA representatives met with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay. The meeting did not result in a resolution of the disputes, and the BMA announced an additional 96-hour strike to take place starting 11 April.[37]
According to a tweet made by Steve Barclay,[38] the BMA placed a pre-condition on the talks of a 35% pay increase. This statement was publicly disputed by the BMA delegates.[39] The BMA accused the government of delaying negotiations and not presenting a credible offer.[40]
On 28 June, it was announced that NHS consultants in England would strike over pay conditions on 20 and 21 July.[41]
On 3 July 2023, The British Medical Association (BMA) stated that junior doctors in England are willing to cancel strikes if the government presents a suitable pay offer, amid demands for wage increases that match inflation.[42]
On 25 January 2024, it was announced that BMA consultant members in England had rejected a pay offer proposed by the government with 51.1% against.[43]
On 5 April 2024, it was announced that the BMA consultants in England had voted to accept an offer[44] to end strikes[45] after the previous vote to reject. One aspect of the new agreement was some reform of the DDRB, including using international comparators to help make pay recommendations.[46]
After the 2024 general election, new negotiations were held with the incoming Labour government, which ended the dispute with Junior doctors on 17 September.[47]
Unite members accepted the pay deal, with 64% voting in favour.[51]Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said that the improved pay result was "a testament to the resolve of our members".[51] Unison members voted by 57% to accept the offer on a turnout of 63%.[52] Yousaf said that he was "delighted" that Unite and Unison members had accepted the offer.[53] The CSP also voted to accept the deal, with 72% of members in favour.[54]
The RCN did not give a recommendation on whether members should accept or reject the offer, but said that it was still "below our expectations".[48] 82% of RCN members who voted rejected the pay offer.[55] Two thirds of GMB members voted to reject the offer.[56] The RCM announced on 21 December that 65% of its members had voted against the pay offer.[50] Jaki Lambert, the RCM director for Scotland, said following the vote that the offer was "simply not good enough" and that members were "prepared to take industrial action" to get a better deal.[50]
Consequently, the RCN, the RCM and the GMB union rejected the pay offer and Unite and Unison accepted it.[55][51] The Scottish government decided to go ahead with its existing pay offer after Yousaf met with union leaders on 23 December.[55] Yousaf said that he would "do everything [he could]" to avert strikes but that there was no more money to increase the offer.[55]
The Scotsman reported on 27 December that a Savanta poll it had commissioned between 16 and 21 December showed that 66% of respondents would support nurses striking, compared to 23% in opposition.[57]
^"Fixing pay for consultants in England". The British Medical Association is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
