LONDON NURSES REJECT 5.5% PAY RISE OFFER FROM UK GOVERNMENT
LONDON — In a bold move, nurses in the UK have decisively turned down the government’s offer of a 5.5% pay rise, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
With an overwhelming two-thirds majority, RCN members voted against the proposed increase, marking a historic high in polling turnout. The pay rise, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on July 29, was scheduled to be implemented next month.
RCN General Secretary Nicola Ranger, in response to the vote, emphasized the increasing frustration among nursing staff, pointing out a “fundamental shift” in their determination to advocate for themselves. In a letter addressed to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Ranger highlighted the dissatisfaction felt by nurses after enduring more than a decade of what she described as “neglect.”
While acknowledging the government’s recent efforts towards NHS reforms, Ranger stressed the importance for workers to “feel valued” in order to effectively “elevate standards and overhaul” the health system.
“This outcome clearly demonstrates their elevated expectations of the government,” she stated, echoing a widespread sentiment that the proposed pay raise fails to adequately address longstanding issues. The RCN pointed out that the real-term pay of an experienced nurse has decreased by 25% under Conservative governments from 2010 to 2024. — Agencies
