![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/politics-latest-news-nursing-strikes-will-completely-disrupt-vital-services-says-minister/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000315507919_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqmteaAKUdxJvta2IYWvTitvp-M6grJEXknTf26MHPsKo.jpeg&description=8:09AM Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said the public finances are "not in the best of shapes" as he responded to the 17.6 per cent pay rise being sought by nurses. He told Sky News: "I used to be rail minister and I used to engage with the rail unions a huge amount and actually I do think those discussions are actually generally valuable because politicians, unless we come from the background, in rail I wasn't a railway man, I needed to understand better the asks, the conditions, the industry itself. "So the engagement is definitely worth doing. But public sector finances are not in the best of shapes and we are trying to stabilise our economy, make sure we drive it forward so there are better times ahead. "But 17 per cent is a very big ask in public sector terms." 8:05AM A Cabinet minister has warned planned industrial action by nurses will "completely disrupt" vital public services that people depend on. Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, was asked during an interview on Sky News this morning if he believed the strikes are "pointless". He said: "I would never say a strike is pointless but this completely disrupts a huge host of public services that are very, very important to the whole nation and dialogue is always the best way." 8:03AM Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said the 17.6 per cent pay rise being sought by the Royal College of Nursing is a "high ask" as he suggested such an increase is "unaffordable" for the Government. Asked if nurses will be given more money, he told Sky News: "They are getting some more money. Nurses pay has been set by independent bodies for quite some time and that award has been made and will be paid. "I want to say, like everybody would like to, that nurses, doctors, everybody in the NHS, went that extra mile during the time of the pandemic. Actually they were the only group of people who got a pay rise in the public sector in the pandemic, a three per cent pay r){kind=link}
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Nursing strikes will “completely disrupt” vital public services and the pay rise being sought by NHS workers is not affordable, a Cabinet minister has said.
Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said the 17.6 per cent increase being asked for by the Royal College of Nursing is a “high ask” and “even Labour say they can’t afford that”.
He also pointed out that NHS workers “were the only group of people who got a pay rise in the public sector in the pandemic”.
Asked if he believed the proposed strike action was “pointless”, he told Sky News: “I would never say a strike is pointless but this completely disrupts a huge host of public services that are very, very important to the whole nation and dialogue is always the best way.”