A nursing union leader has accused Steve Barclay of issuing a “blatant threat” to nurses after the health secretary launched a legal action over a planned strike.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last week announced new strike dates after its members in England voted to reject the government’s pay offer.
But Barclay on Friday said he had sent a pre-action letter after NHS leaders disputed the legality of the strike, saying unlawful strikes would put nurses’ registration at risk.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s “Today” programme on Saturday, RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said the union would “work within the parameters of the law” if the court decides the strike is illegal, but the government “should really see sense, calm this down and withdraw their position, and get in and start negotiating with us.”…