Welsh NHS strikes to continue despite talks

Strikes by ambulance workers and nurses look set to continue despite talks with Wales' health minister on Thursday.

Eluned Morgan gave unions details of a pot of money that could be handed out to NHS staff as a one-off payment.

But several unions said the offer was not enough to avoid further industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accused ministers of not negotiating seriously.

Ms Morgan said there was no intention to reach an agreement at the meeting.

It is not clear how much cash was put on the table and no specifics have been made available on how much NHS workers might get.

But unions said they would continue speaking to the Welsh government.

The Welsh government had been hoping that an offer of a one-off payment to NHS staff would avoid further industrial action.

But striking workers are hoping for a better permanent pay deal than last year's below-inflation offer of between 4% and 5.5%.

GMB members held a one-day strike in the Welsh ambulance service on Wednesday, while Unite is planning ambulance service walkouts later this month.

The GMB's Nathan Holman said: "We have not had an offer that we can put to our members yet.

"GMB made the minister aware that our members would not accept a one-off payment as this would not be sufficient to address the real problems with pay."

He said the union would "remain around the table to negotiate" but had "no alternative than to continue with industrial action".

RCN Wales director Helen Whyley said: "The approach put forward today is simply not enough to offer a substantive and restorative pay award to our members, which is what we have called for all along.

"From the perspective of nursing staff, the Welsh government are not negotiating seriously on NHS pay. Unless they do so urgently, we will be announcing further strike days for Wales, imminently."

Some unions were more receptive than others to the idea of a one-off payment for health workers in this financial year only.

But those who have already been on strike or are about to do so say it doesn't go far enough to avert further action.

The minister also wants to keep people around the negotiating table - the difficult question is what they negotiate about.

Eluned Morgan wants to talk about how to share out a lump sum payment, the unions want to talk pay deals - and neither side seems to be budging at the moment.

Talks are probably better than no talks, but right now further strikes look likely.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "The Welsh government's offer falls far short of what our members need and what is fair pay after a decade and more of pay cuts. Unless they can move further, the strikes by ambulance workers on 19 and 23 January will go ahead."

Both the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in Wales and the Royal College of Midwives said they would not suspend strike action.

There was a warmer reception for the proposals from Unison.

Its members in the NHS are not currently taking industrial action after it missed the turnout threshold needed in a strike vote - it is balloting members again.

Dominic MacAskill, regional secretary of Unison, said the Welsh government's offer was a "significant step that ups the pressure on Westminster if nothing else. Rishi Sunak must explain why the first minister can dig deep for NHS staff but the UK government cannot".

He said the union will enter into negotiations into the detail - but added that a one-off payment still presented "clear difficulties".

Eluned Morgan told BBC Wales there "was no intention to go to any agreement" on Thursday.

"Today was a day for us to start a discussion. We were really pleased that we were able to start that discussion. We understand the strength of feeling from trade unionists within the health service," she said.

Ms Morgan said there "is a pot of money on the table" but declined to say how much it was worth.

"We will have further discussions about that with the trade unions", she added.

The talks coincided with news that PCS members at a number of Welsh public bodies - including the Senedd and Natural Resources Wales - will strike on 1 February as part of wider UK industrial action.

David TC Davies, Conservative Welsh Secretary, said it was not fair for the Welsh government to blame UK Tory ministers for not being able to meet health workers' pay demands, accusing Labour ministers of wanting to blame "someone else".

"The Welsh Labour government actually have the power if they wanted to raise income tax to pay those settlements," he said.

Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for health, Rhun ap Iorwerth, added: "A one-off payment will not attract new entrants, nor will it be incentive to keep people in an already understaffed profession - ultimately, if we do not have sufficient staff to run our health service, then there are serious implications for patient safety."