Nursing union to reveal pay ballot result as junior doctors remain on strike
Junior doctors in England will strike again on Friday while the RCN is set to announce the result of a ballot over a proposed pay offer.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A nursing union is set to announce the result of a ballot over a Government pay offer on Friday, as around 47,000 junior doctors stage a fourth day of strike action in England.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Unison, which represents nurses and other health workers, have been voting on a proposed deal which includes a 5% pay rise this year and a cash payment for last year.
Voting ends on Friday and the RCN is set to announce the final result later.
An RCN spokesperson said on Thursday evening: āVoting is still open and we have no result.
āEvery member is asked to vote by 9am Friday and an announcement of the final result will take place during the day.ā
Unisonās ballot closes later on Friday and the result is expected over the next few days.
Leaders of both unions have recommended acceptance of the offer.
The ballots will close as junior doctors in England stage the final day of a four-day strike in an increasingly bitter dispute over their pay.
It comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors committee co-chairman Dr Robert Laurenson insisted he is āstill workingā while on holiday during the NHS walkouts.
But he said he is āsorryā if striking colleagues feel his absence, to attend a wedding, has undermined their cause.
Dr Laurenson made headlines by taking a holiday to attend the wedding amid the junior doctorsā strikes over demands for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35% pay rise.
I am determined and committed to doctors and winning. Me being physically in a different location shouldn't change anything
The 28-year-old defended his absence from picket lines after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said he was āsurprised to readā Dr Laurenson was on holiday.
āI can see that you feel undermined and I am really sorry my actions have contributed to that,ā Dr Laurenson reportedly wrote in an online forum.
He said he was invited to the wedding in autumn 2022, adding: āI am always responsive on my phone to the needs of my role at the BMA including being in hospital strike WhatsApp groups across the country to answer queries.
āI am determined and committed to doctors and winning.
āMe being physically in a different location shouldnāt change anything.
āI have an amazing co-chair. We have a negotiation team that doesnāt need me and has strict parameters.
āI am still in touch, still attending meetings, and still working.ā
On Thursday, Home Office minister Chris Philp suggested junior doctors must suspend all strikes for the Government to consider entering talks facilitated by conciliation service Acas in a bid to end the pay dispute.
Acas said it is āwell prepared and ready to helpā and the BMA is urging ministers to get round the table to try to break the deadlock.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it remains open to a role for Acas but reiterated talks cannot take place until junior doctors drop their demand for a 35% pay increase and end the strike.
On Wednesday, Mr Sunak said he wanted to find a āreasonable compromiseā with junior doctors.
The chairman of the BMA council, Professor Philip Banfield, said: āIn the face of a constant refusal from the Health Secretary to agree to further talks and put forward a credible offer which could bring an end to the dispute, we believe that working with Acas provides the most realistic chance of a successful outcome to the negotiations.
āThe BMA has no preconditions to talks and has consistently sought to negotiate with the Government.ā
Hospital bosses have expressed concern about keeping patients safe as they struggle to secure cover for overnight junior doctor shifts during strikes.
The health serviceās top doctor, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, has warned that the situation in the NHS will ābecome more challenging each day this strike progressesā.
During the strikes, staff who are still working have prioritised emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures to ensure safe care for those in life-threatening situations.
This means hundreds of thousands of appointments and operations have been rescheduled.
The BMA claims junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because rises have been below inflation.