Health Secretary Steve Barclay has successfully won a legal challenge in the High Court to halt a planned nursing strike scheduled for Tuesday, May 2nd. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) had called for the strike in response to the UK government’s proposed 1% pay rise for nurses, which the RCN has criticized as inadequate.
Following the ruling, the head of the RCN, Pat Cullen, expressed her disappointment, stating that “They’ve taken the most trusted profession through the courts by the least trusted people.” Cullen also noted that the RCN would consider its next steps, but would not rule out further industrial action.
The planned strike would have been the first for the RCN in its 103-year history, with nurses across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland participating. The strike was set to include a four-hour work stoppage and was expected to impact non-emergency healthcare services.
The decision to halt the strike was welcomed by the government, with Health Secretary Steve Barclay stating that he was “pleased that the court has acted to prevent what would have been an unlawful strike.” Barclay also reiterated the government’s commitment to providing fair pay for healthcare workers and acknowledged the tireless efforts of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The issue of fair pay for healthcare workers has been a contentious one in the UK, with many healthcare professionals feeling undervalued and underpaid. The proposed 1% pay rise for nurses has been met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that it fails to recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by healthcare workers during the pandemic.
