Nurses are set to strike on 15 and 20 December at employers across England, Northern Ireland and Wales after the UK government says the RNC union rejected its offer of formal negotiations.
The union will announce a list of employers where strike action will take place next week.
RCN has to ensure life-preserving care is provided during the strikes, which will last from 8am to 8pm under union laws.
There are fears that the action will lead to the elderly being left stranded in hospitals over Xmas leading to more pressure on the NHS system
Strike action will happen in phases, meaning more strike dates could be announced after initial action in December, if governments fail to enter into formal negotiations. They have the power and means to stop strikes at any point but have chosen to go down this route.
Not all members at employers where there is a mandate to strike will be called to strike on these first two dates. Phase one could be just the beginning of a longer period of strike action.
RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “Ministers have had more than two weeks since we confirmed that our members felt such injustice that they would strike for the first time.
“My offer of formal negotiations was declined and instead ministers have chosen strike action. They have the power and the means to stop this by opening serious talks that address our dispute.
“Nursing staff have had enough of being taken for granted, enough of low pay and unsafe staffing levels, enough of not being able to give our patients the care they deserve.”
The Government had rejected the claim for a nineteen per cent pay increase as being unaffordable
