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Britain to face largest ever healthcare strikes as pay disputes drag on

Sunday, 05 February 2023 5:48 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 05 February 2023 7:18 PM ]

People hold placards during a strike by NHS nurses and other medical workers, amid a dispute with the government over pay, in London, Britain, January 18, 2023. (Reuters photo)

Tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance workers across Britain are set to launch a walkout over low pay and working conditions, marking the biggest-ever strike action in the history of the National Health Service (NHS).

The strike by health workers is due to take place on Monday, involving both nursing staff and ambulance workers that have been striking separately on and off since late last year. The strike action would probably be the most disruptive so far in an already strained health system.

Britain is facing a wave of industrial action amid the highest inflation and worst cost-of-living crisis in generations, with strikes crippling public services such as the rail network, postal service, airports and schools.

In December, nurses went on strike for the first time in more than a century.

NHS nurses go on strike demanding better working conditions

Some of the tens of thousands of UK nurses have walked out from their jobs demanding better pay and conditions.

Health workers are demanding a pay raise that reflects the worst inflation in Britain in four decades, while the government says it cannot afford high increases that match the soaring inflation, and even if it could, such monetary increases would further fuel inflation.

Transport Minister Grant Shapps has voiced concern the strikes would put lives at risk, citing a lack of cooperation between the back-up services, such as the army, and those workers who are striking. "The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have very responsibly ... told the NHS this is where we are going to be striking and they're able to put the emergency cover in place. Unfortunately, we've been seeing a situation with the ambulance unions where they refuse to provide that information."

Ambulance workers dismiss Shapps' allegation.

Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite union, said on Sunday she wanted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to come to the negotiating table, accusing the government of lying about ambulance workers. "This government is putting lives at risk," she said.

Meanwhile, thousands of ambulance workers represented by the GMB and Unite trade unions are also set to strike on Monday in their own pay dispute. Both unions have announced several more days of industrial action.

In Wales, nurses and some ambulance workers have called off strikes planned for Monday as they review pay offers from the Welsh government.

Sunak has already called for “bold and radical” actions to end the crisis across the NHS.

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