Ministers refuse to negotiate with nurses on pay to prevent NHS strikes

Ministers refuse to negotiate with nurses on pay to prevent NHS strikes Ministers have rebuffed an offer by nursing unions to suspend planned strikes in return for negotiations on pay, arguing that it was not possible for the government to amend awards decided by the independent pay body for NHS staff.

The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show that the health secretary would happily talk to the unions, but only about improving NHS performance and working conditions, and not about pay. The Guardian

See also:

• Ministers to hold emergency Cobra meeting amid wave of strikes BBC News
• NHS pay talks 'between union and employer' BBC News
• NHS pay body has power to increase nurses' wages, says MP Steve Brine Channel 4 News
• NHS strike: Ministers refuse to negotiate nurses' pay Channel 4 News
• Ministers REFUSE to meet nursing union leaders who have offered to 'pause' strike due to cripple the NHS next week The Daily Mail
• Attempts to cut long NHS waiting lists could be 'knocked off course by strikes' The Daily Telegraph
• Government wants to ensure people are 'safe' during NHS strikes – Cleverly Government wants to ensure people are 'safe' during NHS strikes – Cleverly Evening Standard
• Health unions offer to pause NHS strikes if government join pay talks The Guardian
• Nurses’ union leader accuses Steve Barclay of ‘bullyboy’ tactics The Guardian
• Nurses’ union leader Pat Cullen: ‘I follow through on what I believe in’ The Guardian
• Starmer accuses ministers of ‘profound lack of leadership’ on nursing strike while calling RCN pay demand unaffordable The Guardian
• Ministers 'dangerous and irresponsible' for not talking to striking nurses - as union warns people will die Sky News
• Troops training to drive ambulances as ministers hold emergency strike meetings Sky News
• Government not so much averting strikes as mitigating their impact Sky News