RCN Wales Cancels Strikes and Consults Membership on Revised NHS Wales Pay Offer

RCN Wales strike action due to take place in Wales on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February has been cancelled, following an offer to increase the award already made for 2022/23 by 3% (1.5% consolidated) to nursing staff on agenda for change contracts. The proposal follows negotiations this week between the RCN and other health trade unions and the Welsh Government. Included in this revised package are a number of commitments to enhance staff well-being, on which negotiations will continue next week. The offer will be put to a vote of RCN members working for the NHS in Wales within days.

RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley, said:

“Our strike action in December has clearly been effective as the Welsh Government has listened to the issues facing nursing in Wales and put forward an increased offer for nurses pay back dated to April 2022 and thus avoided the strikes planned for next week.

“Industrial action continues to be a last resort for nurses, and I have heard their stories of the personal sacrifice they make every day fighting for safe care for their patients that pushed them to vote for strike action. The pressure put on the Welsh government by our members has been key to these negotiations moving forward.

"Our elected members have agreed that strike action next week should be cancelled and that we should put forward this offer to our members in Wales for them to decide whether it truly respects and values the nursing profession. The Health Minister should be under no illusion that we will not hesitate to return to strike action should the offer be rejected.”

Our colleagues in England will go ahead with planned strike action on the 6 and 7 February as no further discussions have been offered by the Westminster government.

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Notes to Editors

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interests of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

For more information, please contact the RCN Wales Communications Hub on 02920680769.