UK nurses ANNOUNCE STRIKE dates as RCN members REJECT govt pay offer

First to our top story this hour the threat of widespread industrial action it still looms over the UK in the latest nurses say they are prepared to strike until Christmas after the government reaches a deal with the Union well the Royal College of nurses says it's NHS members in England are also planning to hold another round of 48-hour strikes in May the fresh Threat by the union comes after the members rejected a new pay offer by the government well the new paid deal offered two Health unions includes a five percent pay increase this year and a one-off payment for last year or the five Health unions including the RCN backed the offer and even recommended its members to support it but after the votes RCN said 54 of its members who voted opted to reject the deal Health secretary Steve Barkley have already warned that fresh nurses strikes would have a serious impact on emergency services and answer care while calling the payoff a fair and reasonable meanwhile Labor's Shadow held secretary was streeting appeal to the RCN to continue to protect emergency life-saving care if it does strike again while some opposition lawmakers determine the fresh strike as a wake-up call for the conservative party Alex isad is joining us here in the British Capital so this is a real reality check we could have nice nurses striking I should say until Christmas yes that's right now it was kind of a little bit of a surprise because uh when the offer was put on the table that at the Unison RCN and the other unions all agreed they were going to push for their members to accept the deal now Unison has said that its staff members have agreed to their deal but the RCN Royal College of Nursing said its members haven't now it seems like the members themselves are the ones that want to push this forward they actually want to get something back from the government they do feel tired and overworked but there is a rumor going around that they're going to try and initiate their strike action to be alongside the junior doctors but the RCN this morning has said that that is not their plan they just want to get this strike out there on April 30th to the May the second is what the dates we have at the moment they just want to get that strike to try and get the government to come back to the table now Steve Barkley Health secretary says he is willing to have a conversation but not about pay that offer that he offered back a couple months back still stands but ultimately right now that no more money will be given out but he will discuss other conditions potentially different working areas as well with all the unions and the members have to have a say because ultimately they are the ones that get to vote whether or not they go ahead with strikes Alex Isaac thank you so much we're going to move on from we on royalty on Alex eyes out there to actual royalty and talk about the royal family so thank you so much