UK News: For the first time in the history of 106 years in Britain, nurses strike, demand for salary increase

Nurses employed in the National Health Service in Britain went on strike on Thursday for the first time in its 106-year history. Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have walked off the job after talks with the government failed to demand a pay rise and better working conditions. Over 100,000 nurses joined the strikes in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Next Tuesday the nurses will be on strike again. However, nurses in Scotland called off their strike following a new pay offer. Nurses picketed outside many hospitals as soon as the strike began, despite freezing temperatures across much of the UK.

Demand to remove staff shortage

The nurses demanded an end to the staff shortage, a pay raise and better working conditions. Nurses will still work in intensive care units and the most critical services such as chemotherapy, dialysis, and some pediatric services. But problems were faced in general health services. A large number of surgeries were canceled. The nurses' union has demanded a 19 per cent hike in wages as it is not possible to work for low wages due to skyrocketing inflation.

Government said – cannot bear the burden of salary hike

The government has said that the government cannot bear the burden of such a huge increase in salaries. The government has offered meager increments. Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said in a video before the strike that we were and always will be committed to serving patients. The union decided to strike after a vote of its more than 300,000 members, which makes up about a third of the healthcare workforce. The nurses plan to strike again on 20 December, while the ambulance service will remain closed on 21 December and 28 December.

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