Union talks aimed at ending strike action get under wayon January 9, 2023 at 11:13 am

Ministers are holding separate talks with health, teaching and rail unions to try to bring an end to the country’s various strike actions.

Rishi Sunak said the talks were a “positive development” but any pay deals had to be “affordable”.

Unions welcomed the discussions but insist pay rises for nurses in this financial year must be addressed.

The government has so far only agreed to discuss a settlement for the next financial year, which starts in April.

The prime minister has not denied that his government is exploring the idea of offering public sector workers a one-off payment to help with the cost of living.

Asked about the suggestion, Mr Sunak said: “You wouldn’t expect me to comment on specifics – the most important thing is the conversations are happening.”

The day of talks come as a ballot opens for junior doctors in England to decide on their own industrial action, which could begin in March.

This week’s strikes – which include planned walkouts by nurses, ambulance drivers, bus drivers, teachers and driving examiners – are all expected to go ahead.

In an interview on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Sunak said: “We want to have a reasonable, two-way conversation about pay and everything else that is relevant.”

Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said his remarks offered a “chink of optimism”, but would not stop strikes scheduled for later this month.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Breakfast that nurses’ leader Ms Cullen was a tough negotiator, saying: “She is now offering to meet the government halfway. Surely that is a good starting point now for serious talks on pay?”

Sharon Graham of the Unite union said: “Unless and until he [the prime minister] accepts the need to make real progress on the current pay claim, there will still be strikes across the NHS this winter.”

Kevin Courtney and Mary Bousted, joint leaders of the NEU, arrived for talks at the Department for Education on Monday morning, with Mr Courtney saying: “If there’s no extra money there is no movement.”

A busy day of negotiations includes scheduled meetings between Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and the National Education Union and NASUWT; and Health Secretary Steve Barclay and representatives from Unison, Unite and the Royal College of Nursing.

NHS staff in England and Wales, including nurses, have been given an average pay rise of 4.75% this year but are calling for an increase in line with inflation, which is currently running at more than 10%.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Health Secretary Steve Barclay suggested health workers could get a bigger pay rise in April if they agree to “efficiencies” in the NHS.

While health unions have said talks around this year’s pay are crucial, Mr Barclay wrote that “we should be moving forward and having constructive conversations about what is affordable this coming year, rather than going back retrospectively”.

Ambulance workers in England and Wales will strike for 24 hours on Wednesday – and again towards the end of the month – while nurses are currently planning a walkout on 18 and 19 January.

As well as two days this week, teachers are planning week-long industrial action next week in a pay dispute.

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