(Reuters) – British health minister Steve Barclay said on Friday that he intends to pursue legal action against the Royal College of Nursing’s upcoming strike action.
“Following a request from NHS Employers I have regretfully provided notice of my intent to pursue legal action to ask the courts to declare the Royal College of Nursing’s upcoming strike action planned for 30 April to 2 May to be unlawful,” he said.
“Bullying nurses and dragging us through the highest courts would not be a good look for government,” the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said in a response to his statement. “It would show utter contempt for nursing staff.”
Last week, nurses in England rejected an offer of a 5% pay rise and set out plans for further strikes.
The RCN then said its members would stage a 48-hour strike from April 30, which for the first time will be joined by nursing staff from emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempt.
(Reporting by Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
