[Politics] Nurses' union pay demands not affordable, says Rishi Sunak

[BirSaNN]

 

The 17% pay rise requested by a nursing union that has voted to strike is "not affordable", Rishi Sunak has said.

Nurses in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union have voted for its first UK-wide strike in its 106-year history.

The action will involve RCN members in more than half of hospitals and community teams, but emergency care will still be staffed.

The prime minister said the health secretary would sit down with unions to "see how we can resolve this".

 

 

Speaking in Blackpool after a meeting of the British-Irish Council, Mr Sunak told reporters he shared "everyone's respect and gratitude for our nurses".

But he added: "Where we are now is that the unions are asking for a 17% pay rise - and I think most people watching will recognise that clearly that's not affordable".

 

link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63592205