Downing Street 'considering one-off payment for nurses' after rejecting idea before Christmas
About six weeks ago Steve Barclay, the health secretary, floated the idea of giving nurses a single payment to cover the increased cost of living this financial year, ending in April, but Downing Street and the Treasury rejected it, Sky News understands.
It is understood No 10 is now warming to the idea as nurses prepare for strike action on 18 and 19 January after walking out for the first time before Christmas. The Royal College of Nursing has said it would accept a pay rise of about 10% - down from its initial demand of 19% - if the government could meet them half way.
The union said it would call off strike action if the government discussed pay for this financial year, but ministers have said that was all decided long ago and they only want to talk about next year's pay. Health union bosses are meeting the health secretary today for talks on pay and conditions in a major break-through for workers after the government initially said it was for the independent pay review bodies to negotiate pay, not ministers.
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