Tens of thousands of British nurses have once again walked off the job in support of their demand for significantly higher wages. Rescue workers are also on strike for the first time.
NHS nurses have launched the biggest strike in their history. In England, tens of thousands of employees will be demonstrating for more pay and better working conditions until tomorrow.
The professional association Royal College of Nursing calls for a wage increase that is well above the inflation rate of just over 10 percent recently. For the first time, rescue workers also went on strike on the same day. However, according to the unions, a basic supply is guaranteed.
The conservative government does not want to increase the previous offer of 4.75 percent more wages and warns that an increase in line with inflation will only drive up consumer prices further. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the strike is harming patients at a time when the health service is still recovering from the pandemic. Millions of people wait for routine interventions, and emergencies last much longer than planned. With a controversial law, the government wants to massively restrict the right to strike for several professional groups and thus ensure basic care, for example in the emergency services.
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.
Source: Stern
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