Union leader urges ministers to make pay offer to striking workers

Nurses will stop work at dozens of hospitals in January in 55 NHS trusts as pay dispute with government escalates

The head of one of Britain’s biggest trade unions has urged ministers to make a pay offer to striking workers, insisting it does not necessarily have to beat inflation.

Rachel Harrison, the national secretary of the GMB, told the Guardian her union’s dispute with the government would only be resolved with a higher pay offer, but she added any offer would be taken back to members for a vote.