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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nurses 'reluctantly' accept pay | Nurses 'reluctantly' accept pay |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Royal College of Nursing has voted "with great reluctance" to accept the government's revised pay offer for nurses in England. | The Royal College of Nursing has voted "with great reluctance" to accept the government's revised pay offer for nurses in England. |
| Its acceptance comes days after Unison, representing 450,000 NHS staff including some nurses, and the GMB union, with 9,000 members, accepted it. | Its acceptance comes days after Unison, representing 450,000 NHS staff including some nurses, and the GMB union, with 9,000 members, accepted it. |
| Unions were angered by the government's staging of a recommended 2.5% rise in England, reducing the value to 1.9%. | Unions were angered by the government's staging of a recommended 2.5% rise in England, reducing the value to 1.9%. |
| Ministers improved the deal, but the RCN described it as "imperfect". | Ministers improved the deal, but the RCN described it as "imperfect". |
| The improved offer included a £400 flat-rate rise for tens of thousands of the lowest paid NHS workers, as well as money towards registration fees. | The improved offer included a £400 flat-rate rise for tens of thousands of the lowest paid NHS workers, as well as money towards registration fees. |
| The new deal is worth 3.4% for the lowest paid, but 2.08% overall. | The new deal is worth 3.4% for the lowest paid, but 2.08% overall. |
| 'Heavy heart' | 'Heavy heart' |
| The general secretary of the RCN, Peter Carter, said: "Today the RCN's ruling council has voted with great reluctance to accept the government's revised pay offer for nurses in England. | The general secretary of the RCN, Peter Carter, said: "Today the RCN's ruling council has voted with great reluctance to accept the government's revised pay offer for nurses in England. |
| "Although the immediate threat of industrial action has now been lifted, the government should realise that nurses in England have accepted this offer with a very heavy heart." | "Although the immediate threat of industrial action has now been lifted, the government should realise that nurses in England have accepted this offer with a very heavy heart." |
| He said the RCN did not believe the government's economic argument for giving nurses in England their pay award in instalments. | He said the RCN did not believe the government's economic argument for giving nurses in England their pay award in instalments. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that to maintain the government's economic strategy of low inflation and steady growth, public sector pay must be staged. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that to maintain the government's economic strategy of low inflation and steady growth, public sector pay must be staged. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he was pleased the RCN had accepted the offer. |