Status: 06.02.2023 11:37 a.m
Delayed surgeries, fewer ambulances: The British health service NHS is being struck like never before. Criticism comes from the government, the negotiations are tough.
With the biggest strike in the history of the British health service NHS (National Health Service), the nurses of the UK are demonstrating for better salaries and fair working conditions. Tens of thousands of employees will lay down their jobs by Tuesday. The rescue workers also refuse to work for the first time in the same period. Criticism comes from the government, but according to the unions, basic services are guaranteed.
Union demands over 10 percent
The strike is about a lot of money: the professional association Royal College of Nursing is demanding a wage increase that is well above the inflation rate of just over 10 percent recently. This contrasts with the previous offer from the conservative government of around 4.75 percent more salary. A stronger increase would drive up consumer prices too much and would therefore not be sustainable, they say.
The union RCN is ready for negotiations with the government, but insists on the high demands.
Image: EPA
There is also criticism of the timing of the strike: Health Secretary Steve Barclay referred to millions of people whose routine surgeries are now falling by the wayside. Emergency treatments would also take significantly longer than planned due to the strike. In addition, the healthcare system is still in the process of recovering from the corona pandemic, so the strike is harmful to patients.
Nurse and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Pat Cullen, addressed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a personal letter: “Please take care of this impasse. I have made it clear that opening negotiations and making meaningful offers will avert strikes can.”
Wales avert strike through agreement
The coordinated work stoppage is taking place on an unprecedented scale. As many as 73 of the approximately 220 NHS trusts are out of service, compared with 55 in January and 44 in December last year. A trust describes an organizational unit of the NHS and is either responsible for the care of a specific geographic area or a medical specialty.
In Wales, the NHS strike was called off at short notice after the regional government improved its offer. Health in the UK is a matter for regional governments. For the largest part of England, which does not have its own parliament, the central government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decides.
Meanwhile, the government wants to massively restrict the right to strike for several professional groups with a controversial law and thus ensure basic services in the event of a strike, for example in the case of emergency services.