Oris Johnson’s planned five percent pay increase for millions of public sector workers is insufficient and will not be found “far-fetchedly acceptable” by nurses, according to a union.
A cabinet minister has Financial times the Government will agree to wage increases of about five percent on average for the sector’s 2.5 million employees, including nurses, teachers, police, civil servants and members of the armed forces.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has previously called for a five percent wage increase above the level of retail price index inflation, which is currently more than 11 percent.
Pat Cullen, general secretary of RCN, said late Friday: “Millions of optimistic workers will hope these shattering reports are completely inaccurate. Their work and current personal hardships justify more from the government.
“Nurses would not find this remotely acceptable. Years of wage cuts by ministers must not be concluded with another real drop in salaries. There are tens of thousands of nurse job opportunities and this treatment pushes more out of the profession.
“Our members in Scotland We have an offer of this level on the table and we are opposed to it – we have asked Members to reject it and to consider industrial action if ministers do not move.
“Ministers in Westminster still have the opportunity to see the writing on the wall and do the right thing by nursing.”
There are growing fears that the cost of living crisis could push the UK into a recession, as defined by two quarters of declining output, as skyrocketing inflation keeps household and business spending in check.
Mr Cullen has previously flagged a strike to bring about change, saying: “After a decade of government wage cuts, the nurses cannot afford to wait any longer.”
He added: “No nurse ever wants to take union action, but there is nothing off the table for our members. Nurses may feel they have no other choice to protect patient safety.”
Mr Johnson’s reported plan comes days after new Health Secretary Steve Barclay was urged to end the delay in announcing a pay rise for nurses, amid research suggesting public support for union action on the issue has increased significantly.
The college said nurses should receive a “substantial” pay raise immediately, after a three-month wait for a government decision.
The RCN said a survey of nearly 1,500 people in England found that public support for union action by nurses has risen sharply.
In May, 42 percent of respondents said they are “very! or “quite” likely to support nurses who are taking union action over their pay.
That figure has now risen to nearly half.