The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced that its members have overwhelmingly rejected the government’s offer of a 5.5% pay increase for the 2024-2025 period. In a record turnout of around 145,000 members, two-thirds voted against the deal.
The offer was introduced by the chancellor following Labour’s general election victory in July.
In a letter addressed to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, RCN general secretary, Prof Nicola Ranger, emphasized that nurses are resolute in advocating for themselves, their patients, and the National Health Service (NHS). She wrote, “Nursing staff are determined to stand up for themselves, their patients, and the NHS.”
The union highlighted that the pay for experienced nurses has diminished by 25% in real terms since 2010 under Conservative governments. Prof Ranger noted that “nurses do not feel valued” and expressed concerns about “understaffed shifts, poor patient care, and nursing careers trapped at the lowest pay grades.”
As ministers prepare to introduce a new health and social care agenda, Prof Ranger stressed the importance of ensuring adequate staffing levels and fair compensation. “The government will find our continued support for the reforms key to their success,” she said, adding that the government will need “safe numbers of nursing staff” who “feel valued” if they are to “raise standards and reform the NHS.”
This rejection marks a continuation of the union’s campaign for better pay and working conditions, with the high turnout surpassing previous ballots for industrial action in 2022 and 2023. The first of these ballots led to six months of strike action by nursing staff.
