Pat Cullen claims gender dynamics are affecting negotiations as nurses plan strikes over pay.

The head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Pat Cullen, has accused Health Secretary Steve Barclay of employing “bullyboy” tactics in negotiations with nurses. This comes as RCN members prepare for unprecedented national strikes on December 15 and December 20, set to disrupt the NHS in the lead-up to Christmas.

Cullen, who represents hundreds of thousands of nurses, claims Barclay has refused to engage in meaningful discussions, and suggests the refusal may be due to her leadership of a predominantly female workforce. She argued that a different approach would likely be taken if the profession were male-dominated.

In an interview with The Guardian, Cullen expressed frustration with Barclay’s stance, stating: “I’m a woman negotiating for a 90% female profession, dealing with a Government that’s particularly macho and tends to operate with a bullyboy tactic.” She further criticised Barclay for not recognising nurses’ needs, asserting, “By refusing to negotiate, Steve Barclay is ignoring nurses and ignoring me. I think there’s an issue here with us being female.”

The strike action, set to take place across multiple NHS locations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, follows the union’s dissatisfaction with this year’s pay award of £1,400. RCN representatives claim that due to successive below-inflation pay rises, experienced nurses are now 20% worse off in real terms since 2010. The union is demanding a 5% pay rise above the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation.

Despite Barclay’s assertion that his “door remains open” for talks, Cullen argues that the Government is failing to value the contributions of nurses. She remarked that the healthcare sector often devalues “female work,” despite the crucial roles that nurses played during the pandemic.

In response to the growing tensions, a Department of Health spokesperson expressed that Mr Barclay has “the utmost respect for nurses” and highlighted that the Government is addressing worker conditions beyond pay. However, Cullen remains steadfast, stating that she would be willing to engage in discussions if the Government is willing to show flexibility. “Everything is on the table,” she said, “but they need to come to the table with me.”

The strikes come at a time when the NHS is already under significant pressure, and with ambulance workers set to join the industrial action on December 21, the Government faces further challenges as it works to address workers’ concerns.