Britain’s health workers are ready to continue their striking spree as they have announced a new round of strike in January as their long-running dispute with the government over pay and conditions is set to progress in 2023.
According to Al Jazeera news, thousands of nurses are ready to extend their commitment to strike action on January 18 and 19 after walking out two days in December, the Royal College of Nursing said on Friday. They are seeking pay increases in line with inflation.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters he is “sad” and “disappointed” about widespread strikes, but he insisted that refusing to negotiate on public sector pay was the “right thing” in the long term.
Strike dates for the nurses union in Scotland are also expected to be announced in the new year after it voted to reject a pay offer from the Scottish government this week.
Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Pat Cullen said on Friday that they are left with no choice as the Prime Minister have shown no commitment to see to their plight and negotiate over their pay, “I do not wish to prolong this dispute, but the prime minister has left us with no choice.”
Inflation stood at 10.7 percent in November, driven largely by food and energy price rises in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.