Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Sunak, MPs reject pay rise proposal amid nation-wide NHS walkouts

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Dec 2022 13:40
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

The RCN is requesting a 19% pay rise - 5% over the RPI inflation rate - which the UK government called "unaffordable."

  • x
  • NHS Nurse strikes in the UK (Morning Star)
    NHS Nurse strikes in the UK (Morning Star)

In light of a country-wide strike across England and Wales, thousands of ambulance workers took to the streets following suit of the National Health Service nurses who protested last week after ministers rejected the proposal by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to negotiate pay raises.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insists that demanding a pay raise will worsen the already-devastating inflation, adding that the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) has also considered future inflation. 

During his appearance at the House of Commons liaison committee, Sunak stated: "I’ve acknowledged it is difficult, it’s difficult for everybody because inflation is where it is. And the best way to help them and help everyone else in the country is for us to get a grip and reduce inflation as quickly as possible."

But Sunak then seemed to imply that it may be possible to reconsider the matter later, that "there will be a body and a process for next year. The door is always open to talk to everybody to be constructive about how we approach these things in the future.”

Read more: UK medical workers strike for first time in 106 years

'Entered dangerous territory'

Related News

UK NHS doctor grieves nephew slain at Gaza food distribution point

England’s hospitals may cut 100,000+ jobs amid cost-cutting directives

Discussions held between Health Secretary Steve Barclay and the health unions with Unite proved to be fruitless, the second largest trade union in the UK describing the talks as “pointless.”

"Deeply regrettable," is how Barclay described the strikes after stating that a majority of ambulance staff received a pay increase of 4%, which boosted average earnings to £47,000.

This affects patients' conditions as well. Those with life-threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest classified as category 1, will be responded to immediately, but those pertaining to category 2, suffering from critical conditions might not be tended to. 
 
In a letter, head of the NHS confederation, Matthew Taylor, was cited as warning Sunak: "It is clear that we have entered dangerous territory and we hope this warning from NHS leaders should serve to focus minds in government and in the unions that a swift resolution to this damaging dispute is needed."

'Truly sorry'

According to the NHS Confederation, "deep worry among NHS leaders about the level of harm and risk that could occur to patients tomorrow and beyond," was present as "many now tell us that they cannot guarantee patient safety".

The RCN is requesting a 19% pay rise - 5% over the RPI inflation rate - which the UK government called "unaffordable", despite its continued support for sending millions worth of weapons to Ukraine. 

Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, expressed she was "truly sorry" for patients facing medical disruptions from the strikes. Cullen clarified her willingness to negotiate terms, but added that "we have no opportunity to do that because we can't get to a table to talk to government."

Amid warnings that disruptive walkouts could continue in the New Year, the UK Labour party slammed No10's response to the strikes, with shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth saying:

"The buck stops with Rishi Sunak and his Government. They're the ones who can stop these strikes by engaging in a meaningful negotiation about what is a fair settlement for NHS staff."

  • NHS
  • Strike
  • Rishi Sunak
  • UK

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS