NHS staff in Wigan and Leigh to strike again in pursuit of better pay

Nurses across Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh NHS Trust came out in force on Wednesday, January, 19, and lined the streets to strike in front of Wigan Infirmary.

They joined nursing staff at 55 NHS trusts across England that are fighting for a 19% pay rise, although the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) indicated it may be prepared to meet the government halfway.

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Nurses across the country were striking over pay and patient safety (Image: RCN)

Following this week's strikes, the RCN union announced that they are planning its biggest strike to date on Monday, February 6, and Tuesday, February 7, unless progress is made in negotiations.

Also fighting for pay rises to meet inflation, ambulance workers will go on strike again on Monday, January 23, and Monday, February 6.

Under trade union laws, both unions will have to provide emergency cover.

Nurses across Wigan and Leigh came out to strike on Wednesday, January 18 (Image: RCN)

RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen visited striking nurses at Wigan Infirmary on Wednesday morning.

She said: “The strike action by nursing staff is a modest escalation before a sharp increase in under three weeks from now. If a week is a long time for Rishi Sunak, three weeks is the time he needs to get this resolved. 

"People aren’t dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because people are dying. That is how severe things are in the NHS and it is time the Prime Minister led a fight for its future.

“The record number of unfilled nurse jobs cannot be left to get worse. Pay nursing staff fairly to turn this around and give the public the care they deserve.”

"We’re campaigning for a pay rise to help tackle chronic staff shortages by enabling the NHS to recruit and retain the nursing staff it desperately needs."

Nurses will strike again next month if the dispute is not resolved (Image: RCN)

Ms Cullen stated that the union's offer to meet the government halfway is an "olive branch" that they should grab.

She added: "We’re committed to staging safe and effective strikes that maintain life-preserving services through derogations, which are exemptions of either individuals or whole services from taking part in strike action."