LONDON (AP) 鈥� Britain鈥檚 biggest nurses鈥� union asked its 300,000 members Thursday whether they want to go on strike in a dispute over pay, and the U.K.鈥檚 electricity system operator warned of potential winter blackouts, in the latest evidence of the U.K.鈥檚 worsening energy and cost-of-living squeeze.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing are voting through Nov. 2 on whether to stage the biggest strike in the organization鈥檚 106-year history.
General Secretary Pat Cullen said 鈥渘urses are struggling to provide safe care for their patients鈥� because of staff shortages. The union is seeking a pay raise of 5% above the rate of inflation, which is currently at a 40-year high of almost 10%.
鈥淭he only way that we鈥檙e going to address those vacancies and ensure that we recruit nurses into our health services and hold on to the brilliant services that we鈥檝e got is if we pay them a decent wage,鈥� she said.
Cullen said nurses would continue to provide critical care during a strike.
The potential for a strike by nurses comes after walkouts by railway staff, lawyers and others seeking pay increases to keep up with inflation. Trains ground to a halt across the country on two days this week following a series of earlier rail strikes; another is scheduled for Saturday.
Britain鈥檚 cost of living crisis is fueled largely by the fallout from Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, which has pushed gas and electricity prices higher and squeezed energy supplies across Europe.
The organization that oversees the U.K.鈥檚 electricity grid said Thursday that planned blackouts might be needed this winter if the gas-fired power plants that produce 43% of Britain鈥檚 electricity can鈥檛 get enough gas to continue operating.
The National Grid Electricity System Operator said that in an 鈥渦nlikely鈥� scenario in which Britain received no imported electricity from Europe, households and businesses might face planned three-hour outages to ensure the grid does not collapse.
The U.K. last saw planned blackouts in the 1970s, during an international oil crisis and a series of coal miners鈥� strikes.
The Associated Press
