Analysis
Rishi Sunak change of heart may end strikes – but could this solution have been arrived at sooner?
The progress on strikes is down to a significant shift in position from the prime minister and chancellor – but thousands of cancelled operations and appointments could potentially have been avoided if they had made this decision earlier.
Rob Powell
Political correspondent @robpowellnews
Friday 17 March 2023 12:08, UK
RETRANSMITTING CORRECTING CAPTION Prime Minister Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street, London, to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament. Picture date: Wednesday March 15, 2023.
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Initially on Brexit, then on migrant crossings and now on strikes – it feels like Rishi Sunak has shifted gear to try to resolve the various problems that have dogged his premiership.
An offer to NHS unions yesterday appears to be paving the way for progress in other disputes, with teachers in for talks today and junior doctors next week.
The discussions with the British Medical Association are expected to focus on a similar pay deal to the one agreed with health unions yesterday.
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The unknown is if the BMA will be as willing to swallow a compromise on the headline pay rise – given suggestions they want a huge 35% increase for members.
The situation with schools may also prove more complex.
Government sources have previously rejected comparisons between the education and health disputes, highlighting variations in pay and pensions between the sectors.
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Read more:
Teacher strikes to pause for ‘intensive talks’ with unions
NHS unions reach pay deal after government offers bigger pay rise
Will they now be willing to offer one-off payments to teachers as well? Or will the NHS be carved out as a special case?
Then there’s the question of where the money for these pay rises will come from.
Dominic Raab suggested this morning it would have to be from existing budgets, while unions say they were assured it wouldn’t be sliced from other parts of the NHS.
The Department of Health says discussions are ongoing in government, but it’s clear there’s a desire for the Treasury to put in more cash.
Amid the optimism of ending this strike action, it’s also worth asking whether this solution could have been arrived at sooner?
The idea of a lump sum “bonus” payment was put on the table by the Health Secretary months ago, but was rejected by the Treasury and Downing Street.
The progress this week is down to a significant shift in position from the prime minister and chancellor – who were initially resistant to any discussions on re-opening this year’s pay packet.
If that change of heart had come about sooner, thousands of cancelled operations and appointments could have potentially been avoided.
Related Topics
Rishi Sunak
Strikes
