Nurses strike: Union leader urges government to 'do the decent thing'

The head of the Royal College of Nursing has urged the government to "do the decent thing" as thousands stage their second walkout in a row over pay.

Speaking on the picket line at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, Pat Cullen said the strikes could be ceased if the government were to budge on salary.

The strikes could go on for six months, the RCN warned, if an agreement is not reached.

Government officials have said the demanded pay rise is unaffordable.

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[vickywilliams]

Trouble is, the government dont pay. We do, in taxes.

[ugwxerw]

Can’t have the NHS and mass unwanted immigration 🤷🏽‍♂️

[YourlordandsaviourZelenskyy]

Don’t get paid when on strike, so the cost of living can’t be that bad then

[Cobra_Kie]

£40k pa basic for nurses just isn’t realistic unfortunately.

[philg]

No problem with a nurse pay rise. We all need a little extra to track cost of living. But it has to come out of savings in the NHS, not a tax hike for the private sector, as normal. Get rid of the wasters in NHS management and administration. The NHS gets more than enough money to pay nurses.

[jayjay-]

Give me money... who cares who dies.... give me money money money

[dandlion]

How much did we just give Ukraine again

[christopherdowns]

I stand by our nurses, give them what they want, government find money for other useless bullshit, this is actually meaningful and impactful. If I was them I simply wouldn’t go back to work till they get what they deserve.

[billweaver]

How about the union reducing their patently over the top 19% claim? I don’t grudge the nurses a decent salary but what they are paid at the moment is almost double my pension.

[MarriedToTheKGB]

the pot is empty, you lot have no chance of getting your demands. If you're not happy, try to find another job and quit moaning

[lovedaybebe]

If the government could take back the money given to their friends and family during the pandemic. All the money wasted on track and trace for example . These nurses deserve to paid for the hard work they do, unlike those who benefited from their chums during that debacle.

[blandoatmeal]

Honestly, having been under the care of all the nurses I saw whilst getting diagnosed and getting treatment for my cancer, I look at the pay of nurses and everyone else and see 19% or 5% above inflation as a minuscule ask for the work they do.

[splatten]

MP’s will pay themselves handsomely with pay rises but anyone else…

[Senseigainz]

Lets help increase inflation by increasing every bodies wages 🤦‍♂️

[Security]

go round all the houses and collect the money from people that support pay rises.

[SHK]

You have to give the public sector credit, they always know when it's time to kick the country when it's down. Cost of living crisis = opportunity. You have to respect the shithousery.

[TruthTortoise]

1:35 That look of fear and shame as he crawled out of the car. What an absolute goon.

[brianpaige]

Promote more jabs again....get your bonus from big pharma...

[adriennemeager]

We can find 2B to go up in smoke for others but we can't find the money to support our Country!

[andrewwardle-znxb]

everyone want more money to keep up with inflation, we have to prioritize
to get us out of this recession, so only those people at the bottom of the ladder
need it most, the poorest people