In the United Kingdom, members of the Royal College of Nursing have overwhelmingly rejected a proposed 3.6% pay increase from the government, calling it inadequate and eroded by inflation. The vote, which included nurses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, could lead to further disruption in the NHS later this year. Unlike other unions that have moved toward strikes, the RCN plans to push for negotiations on broader issues such as nursing student support and changes to the national pay structure. The union argues that nurses have seen the real value of their pay fall significantly since 2010.
See "Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland overwhelmingly reject 3.6% pay rise", Denis Campbell, The Guardian, July 28, 2025