Nurses could get one-off cash boost under government plans to stop strikes

NURSES could get a one-off cash boost under plans being considered by No10 to stop the strikes.

Rishi Sunak is understood to be mulling a lump sum payment as a sweetener for unions to accept a deal.

The PM refused to rule out the scheme when pressed on a hospital visit in Yorkshire today. 

And in crunch talks with union bosses yesterday Health Secretary Steve Barclay agreed to “take it away”.

Government sources said Mr Barclay stressed NHS workers could get higher pay rises if there was more “efficiency and productivity” in the health services. 

He wants to arrange more meetings to “make the health service work better and save staff time, that could unlock additional funding”.

It sparked fury from militant unions, with Unite’s Onay Kasab branding it an “insult to our members”. 

But Tory sources hit back that Mr Kasab was not even at the meeting, which they described as “constructive”.

Unions also floated the idea of backdating the 2023/24 pay offer to January 1 rather than kicking in from April.

Mr Barclay said he would take it away. 

Ministers are refusing to reopen last year’s pay settlement and want to focus on the evidence they provide to the independent pay boards for next year’s offer.

But to break the deadlock, government insiders said Downing Street is now weighing a hardship payment for nurses, who polls show command huge public support.

Steve Barclay pushed for the single support sum last year but it was blocked by the Treasury. 

A No10 source said no specific work has been done on plans for a nurse cash boost but refused to rule it out.

The PM refused to rule out the scheme when pressed on a hospital visit in Yorkshire today. 

He said: “You wouldn’t expect me to comment on specifics but the most important thing is that the conversations are happening, that people are talking and with regards to pay we have to have those conversations based on what is affordable, what’s reasonable, what’s responsible, for the country.”

He added: “On pay, we’ve always said that the Government is happy to talk about pay demands and pay issues that are anchored in what’s reasonable, what’s responsible and what’s affordable for the country.

“The most important thing is those talks are happening and let’s try and sit down and find a way through.”

Health, education and rail unions all met their respective ministers today as Mr Sunak insisted a “dialogue” was the best way to crack the stalemate. 

Mr Barclay told health unions they could get more pay next year if “productivity and efficiency” was increased.

The Education Secretary begged teachers not to strike as she met union bosses yesterday.

Gillian Keegan said kids’ learning suffered enough during the pandemic as she tried to avert schools closing.

Three teaching unions will announce in the coming days the results of industrial action ballots.

Ms Keegan opened a 1.5-hour meeting brandishing the letter unions sent her demanding an extra £2billion for schools when she got the job – which she subsequently got in the Autumn Statement. 

A Government source said: “That was a significant achievement, and Gillian wanted to remind the unions that she delivered what they asked for.”

But her approaches were given short shrift from unions. 

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The meeting was constructive but largely unsatisfactory in that our concerns over the long-term erosion of teacher pay and conditions”.