CLAIMS that the UK Government is counting on the public turning against striking health workers has been branded "an absolute disgrace" by the head of a nursing union.
Pat Cullen from the Royal College of Nursing made the comments on the ITV Peston show ahead of members across the UK takig strike action on December 15 and 20.
In Northern Ireland, members of Unison also begin two weeks of action, short of strike, on Monday, with a full day of strike action on December 12 while Nipsa members are starting "indefinite" action short of striking from Monday.
Ms Cullen was asked about reports that some government members were happy for the strikes to go ahead as it would damage public support and reduce their claim for a pay offer.
"“I read that today as well and I thought ‘what a disgrace, what an absolute shame' if anyone in Westminster has uttered those words about the profession that carried all of us through the pandemic and long before it," she said.
“The people that’s propping up our health service every single day. Who value every single patient that comes in through it.
“If that’s the words that they’re uttering in the corridors of Westminster, I would really ask them to take a long, hard look at themselves.What a shaming disgrace."
She also criticised the government for refusing to negotiate with her union.
“They refuse to negotiate with us and consequently have chosen strike over negotiation. I find that really appalling," she said.
She said that nursing pay had dropped by 20 per cent over the last decade compared to a 20 per cent increase for government ministers.
"I think those figures speak for themselves about who is looking after who here and the price that’s put on caring and treating patients that we should be looking after every day."
She added: "Are nurses being greedy? Absolutely not, they’re asking for what they deserve."
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"If we value the NHS and want the NHS to continue as it is then we have to make this affordable….if it’s unaffordable then it says something about where we see the NHS going.”
