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2022–present National Health Service strikes

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2022 National Health Service strikes
Part of the 2021–present UK cost-of-living crisis and UK industrial disputes and strikes (2022–present)
Striking nurses, in London, 19 December 2022
Date6 October 2022 (2022-10-06) – present (2 years, 2 months, 1 week and 6 days)
Location
United Kingdom
Caused byOvertime Ban
StatusOngoing
Parties
Lead figures
2021–present United Kingdom
cost-of-living crisis
A foodbank donation point in Sainsbury's, Slough, in June 2022
Background
Industrial action

The 2022–present National Health Service (NHS) strikes are several ongoing industrial disputes in the publicly funded health services of the United Kingdom.

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

[edit]

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]

General Secretary of the RCN Pat Cullen has called on the UK government to open negotiations.[9]

Responses

[edit]

Prime Minister Rishi 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]

Jake Berry (the former Chairman of the Conservative Party), Dan Poulter (a former minister in the Department of Health), and Robert Buckland (the former Justice Secretary) called on Sunak to negotiate with unions.[13][14]

In Prime Minister's Questions on 14 December, Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer said that the NHS strikes were "a badge of shame" for the government and that Sunak was in "hibernation" instead of trying to avert the disruption.[15] Wes Streeting, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said that a Labour government would "take on" health unions which were "hostile", but would be prepared to negotiate pay increases.[16]

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]

Ambulance worker strikes

[edit]

On 30 November, the GMB announced that more than 10,000 ambulance workers had voted to strike in nine NHS trusts across England and Wales for the first time since between September 1989 and February 1990.[19] The ambulance service trusts affected are the South Western Ambulance Service, the South East Coast Ambulance Service, the North West Ambulance Service, the South Central Ambulance Service, the North East Ambulance Service, the East Midlands Ambulance Service, the West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Welsh Ambulance Service, and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.[20] The union called two 24-hour strikes on 21 and 28 December.[20][21]

UNISON members at ambulance services in London, Yorkshire, the North West, the North East, and the South West also are to go on strike on 21 December, from noon until midnight.[22] Unite the Union announced that over 1,600 of its workers in ambulance services in the West Midlands, the North West, and the North East would walk out on 21 December after workers voted by up to 92% for strike action.[23]

Last-minute talks on 20 December between Health Secretary Steve 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

[edit]

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]

Manchester United decided to reduce capacity at Old Trafford by 12,000 for their Carabao Cup match against Burnley F.C. due to the strike.[30] The matches between Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth and between Southampton F.C. and Lincoln City had already been rescheduled to 20 December because of the strikes.[31]

Doctor strikes

[edit]

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]

Scottish pay offer

[edit]

NHS workers in Scotland were given an average 7.5% pay offer by the Scottish government, resulting in unions in Scotland suspending their strikes.[48] Humza Yousaf, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said that the proposal was the "best and final pay offer" available and that there was "nothing left in the coffers" to improve it further.[49] The RCN,[48] Royal College of Midwives (RCM),[50] the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP),[51] Unite, Unison and the GMB launched consultative members ballots on the offer.[49]

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]

Strike Dates

[edit]

England

[edit]
Nurses Ambulance Health Workers (Undefined) Junior Doctors Consultant doctors
RCN Unison GMB Unite Unison
December
15/12/22 Yes [58]

44 Trusts[59]

20/12/22 Yes[58]

44 Trusts[59]

21/12/22 Yes[60]

LAS, NEAS, NWAS, SWAST & YAS[61]

Yes

2 Liverpool Trusts[61]

January
11/1/23 Yes[60]

LAS, NEAS, NWAS, SWAST & YAS[61]

18/1/23 Yes

55 Trusts[62]

19/1/23 Yes

55 Trusts[62]

23/1/23 Yes[60]

LAS, NEAS, NWAS, SWAST & YAS[61]

Yes

2 Liverpool Trusts[61]

February
6/2/23 Yes

73 Trusts[63]

Yes? Yes?
7/2/23 Yes

73 Trusts[63]

10/2/23 Yes[60]

LAS, NEAS, NWAS, SWAST & YAS[61]

17/2/23 Yes? Yes?
20/2/23 Yes? Yes?
March
1/3/23 Yes

102 Trusts[64]

2/3/23 Yes

102 Trusts[64]

3/3/23

(Night shift into this date)

Yes

102 Trusts[64]

6/3/23 Cancelled[60]

All but SECAMB[61]

13/3/23 A 72-hour walk out, from 7am on 13/3/23
20/3/23 Yes? Yes?
April
11/4/23 A 96-hour walk out from 11/4/23
June
14/6/23 A 72-hour walk out from 14/6/23
July
13/7/23 A 120-hour walk out from 13/7/23 at 7:00am to 18/7/23 at 6:59am
20/7/23 A 48-hour strike planned to take place from 7am on 20/7/23, providing Christmas Day levels of cover

Trusts only includes NHS Trusts and does not include any ICB, ICS or CSU's.

Ambulance Services

[edit]
  • EMAS - East Midlands Ambulance Service
  • EoE - East of England
  • IoW - Isle of Wight
  • LAS - London Ambulance Service
  • NEAS - North East Ambulance Service
  • NWAS - North West Ambulance Service
  • SECAMB - South East Coast Ambulance
  • SCAS - South Central Ambulance Service
  • SWAST - South West Ambulance Service
  • WMAS - West Midlands Ambulance Service
  • YAS - Yorkshire Ambulance Service

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nurses across UK to vote in first ever RCN strike ballot over pay". The Guardian. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ^ "It's now up to the government to avoid strikes in NHS by putting pay right, says UNISON". Unison. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Where are nurses striking? Full list of NHS trusts taking part in the strike and when the dates could be". MSN.
  4. ^ Gallagher, Paul (9 November 2022). "NHS nurses vote to strike in December over below inflation pay rise". inews.co.uk.
  5. ^ Ford, Megan (10 November 2022). "RCN ballot: Members in Wales vote to strike at all but one employer".
  6. ^ "Nurses to strike for two days before Christmas". BBC News. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Strikes Update: How nurses' strikes on Wednesday will affect you". BBC News. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Nurses strike: New dates as union escalates dispute". BBC News. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Pat Cullen: Who is the RCN nursing union boss leading strikes?". BBC News. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  10. ^ Tobi Thomas (16 December 2022). "UK government warned it has five days to stop NHS strikes spreading – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2023. But as we covered earlier, Sunak insisted today that the NHS pay offer is "appropriate and fair", as he resisted pressure from health leaders and some Conservative MPs.
  11. ^ Sam Blewett (16 December 2022). "Rishi Sunak resists pressure to negotiate with nurses on pay to avert strikes". Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  12. ^ Steven Swinford (8 December 2022). "Rishi Sunak may limit right to strike for workers in the public sector". The Times. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Rishi Sunak says nurses' pay offer appropriate and fair". BBC News. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. ^ Sophie Morris (16 December 2022). "Nurses' strike: Former Tory cabinet minister Robert Buckland calls on Rishi Sunak to 'chart a middle' course over pay dispute". Sky News. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  15. ^ "PMQs: Nurses strike is a badge of shame, Starmer tells Sunak". BBC News. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. ^ Laura Donnelly (10 December 2022). "Labour vows war on 'hostile' health unions". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Rishi Sunak not ruling out 'tough laws' to ban NHS strikes". Nation.Cymru. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  18. ^ Public support for nurses' strike piles pressure on Sunak and divides Tories The Observer. 17 December 2022
  19. ^ "More than 10,000 ambulance workers vote to strike in nine trusts across England and Wales". GMB Union. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Ambulance strike dates announced". GMB Union. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  21. ^ Richard Castle (6 December 2022). "Exact dates over 1,500 North West Ambulance Service workers will strike". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  22. ^ "UNISON ambulance workers strike over pay and staffing". UNISON. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Over 1,600 ambulance workers to strike on 21 December". Unite the Union. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  24. ^ Jane Kirby (20 December 2022). "Talks over ambulance strike fail to break deadlock". Evening Standard. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Ambulance workers suspend planned strike on 28 December". The Guardian. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  26. ^ Farouq Suleiman (23 December 2022). "British nurses and paramedics plan more strikes in 2023". Reuters. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Ambulance staff and nurses to strike on same day". BBC News. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Avoid contact sports during ambulance strikes, says minister". BBC News. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  29. ^ Denis Campbell; Jessica Elgot; Mark Brown (20 December 2022). "NHS ambulance strikes: don't get drunk and avoid 'risky activity', people told". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  30. ^ Simon Stone (15 December 2022). "Manchester United cut capacity for Burnley match because of ambulance strike". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Carabao Cup: Fourth-round ties at Newcastle & Southampton moved because of strikes". BBC Sport. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  32. ^ "BMA demands full pay restorations junior doctors in England". British Medical Association. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  33. ^ Campbell, Denis (27 June 2022). "UK doctors demand pay rise of up to 30% over five years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  34. ^ Patterson, Chris (20 February 2023). "Junior doctors vote yes to industrial action". British Medical Association. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  35. ^ Gregory, Andrew (24 February 2023). "Junior doctors in England to strike for three days from 13 March". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  36. ^ "Junior doctor strike led to 175,000 cancellations". BBC News. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  37. ^ Media, P. A. (23 March 2023). "Junior doctors in England to strike for four days in April". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  38. ^ Barclay, Steve [@SteveBarclay] (23 March 2023). "I met the BMA's junior doctors committee yesterday in the hope of beginning constructive talks. They placed a pre-condition on these talks of a 35% pay rise. That is unreasonable. My door remains open to constructive conversations, as I have had with other health unions" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Laurenson, Robert [@RobLaurensonD4P] (23 March 2023). "This is untrue. We set no preconditions unlike you. These were the additional preconditions you wanted us to sign along with the others you set to get in that room. Weird that you would blatantly misrepresent the truth like that Who do people trust? Politicians or Doctors? https://t.co/BXngvpQuSI https://t.co/Gip2qDyend" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  40. ^ "BMA announces dates for new 96-hour walkout by junior doctors in England after Government failure to make any credible offer in talks - BMA media centre - BMA". The British Medical Association is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  41. ^ "Senior doctors back strike action in England". BBC.
  42. ^ Ahire, Lavanya; Jaiswal, Rishabh (3 July 2023). "UK's BMA union willing to cancel strikes for suitable pay offer". Reuters. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  43. ^ "BMA gives Government chance to improve consultants pay offer after members narrowly vote against it - BMA media centre - BMA". The British Medical Association is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  44. ^ "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.
  45. ^ "BMA accepts Government's offer on pay for consultants in England and pay review body reform - BMA media centre - BMA". The British Medical Association is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  46. ^ "BMA to put improved pay offer to consultants in England - BMA media centre - BMA". The British Medical Association is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  47. ^ "NHS: Junior doctors in England agree a deal to end strikes". BBC Newsround. 17 September 2024.
  48. ^ a b c Megan Ford (6 December 2022). "RCN consults nurses in Scotland on new pay offer". Nursing Times. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  49. ^ a b "New pay offer made to NHS Scotland health workers". BBC News. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  50. ^ a b c "Midwives in Scotland reject latest NHS pay offer". BBC News. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  51. ^ a b c d "Two NHS Scotland unions accept 7.5% pay deal". BBC News. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  52. ^ Ella Devereux (13 December 2022). "Two unions in Scotland accept improved pay offer for nurses". Nursing Times. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  53. ^ Yousaf, Humza [@HumzaYousaf] (12 December 2022). "I am delighted that Unite & Unison members have agreed to accept our record pay offer for NHS staff. I am grateful for the positive engagement that has taken place with our trade union colleagues, which has so far averted strike action in our NHS in Scotland" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  54. ^ "Scottish government to implement latest pay offer". Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  55. ^ a b c d "Scottish government to 'impose' pay deal on nurses". BBC News. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  56. ^ Kevin Scott (15 December 2022). "Latest NHS Scotland pay offer rejected by majority of union's members". STV. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  57. ^ "Scotland's papers: Strike support for nurses and Christmas A&E delays". BBC News. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  58. ^ a b "First strike dates announced by Royal College of Nursing after UK government declines NHS pay negotiations | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  59. ^ a b "RCN confirms the locations of December strikes across the UK | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  60. ^ a b c d e Ayad, Fatima (3 March 2023). "UNISON to suspend strike to enter NHS pay talks with government | News, Press release | News". UNISON National. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  61. ^ a b c d e f g Barnes, Anthony (17 February 2023). "NHS dispute widens to cover most parts of England | News, Press release | News". UNISON National. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  62. ^ a b "More hospitals to take part in strikes in January, RCN announces, after UK Government fails to open NHS pay talks | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  63. ^ a b "RCN announces further strike action in February after UK Government fails to start negotiations | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  64. ^ a b c "Royal College of Nursing steps up strike action by removing wide-ranging derogations | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
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