United Kingdom: Unprecedented strike by nurses, at the center of a historic social crisis

British nurses will go on strike on December 15 and 20, a move unprecedented in 106 years, reflecting the seriousness of the social crisis in the UK with walkouts across many sectors not seen in decades. “Nurses have had enough”Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) Union, summed up. “Enough of low wages, (…) enough of not giving patients what they deserve”.

Employees voted on November 9 in favor of this unprecedented strike in the history of the RCN, which was formed 106 years ago. The union announced on Friday, November 25, two days of action, December 15 and 20. “Government refusal to negotiate”. According to estimates, since 2010, the real salary of nurses has decreased by 20%, in particular, due to the existing living wage, inflation has exceeded 11%. The annual salary of a junior nurse is £27,000 gross (€31,400).

But for Health Minister Steve Barclay, “It’s a difficult time for everyone” And the government cannot meet the demands “available” of the RCN, which “The salary increased by 19.2%”.

7 million people are waiting for treatment, which is a record

According to NHS Providers, which represents hospital groups in England, one in four hospitals have set up food banks to support staff. “We are tired. we are tired We need to raise wages to live.”said Agence France-Presse Ameera, a nurse at a London hospital who voted for the strike.

Nurses oppose the strike, fearing that the mobilization will harm patients. But for now, who declined to be named, “The British government is gambling with patients’ health by not raising wages”. He tells about covid, his colleagues who lost their lives there. “And why? Only for the government and the world to applaud us” ?

The strike comes as the NHS, which has been underfunded for years, is in deep crisis. The government has announced a £3.3 billion increase in the NHS budget next year and the year after.

According to the Royal College of Nursing in England, 47,000 nursing positions are unfilled. Last year, 25,000 community-based nurses or midwives knocked on the door. “Poor pay contributes to staff shortages in UK affecting patient safety”Condemns the union.

More than 7 million people are waiting for treatment in English hospitals, a record number.

Lawyers, postal workers, teachers…

The social movement is not only hitting the health sector. Many public and private sector workers, from lawyers to airport ground staff, have also gone on strike this year. Teachers in Scotland went on strike on Thursday 24 November to demand a pay rise. University employees also stopped work on Thursday and Friday, a move that affected about 2.5 million students.

Postal workers have extended their strike until 2023, which could affect the delivery of mail and packages during the holiday season. Transport was also affected. The London Underground was paralyzed by extremely popular traffic on November 10. Railway workers have announced several days of action between the end of the year and the first week of January. Officials also announced a social movement.

“The last big strikes date back to the 70s and 80s, but they mostly affected the private sector and industry. There is mainly the public sector”Pippa Catterall, professor of history at the University of Westminster, the attacker herself, explained to Agence France-Presse. “People have been under pressure for a long time. It is not only the salaries but also the workload. We don’t see how anything can change except the strike.”he continued.

and with record inflation, “People are increasingly irritated by cosmetic measures announced by employers and the government”.