Rishi Sunak has invited British union leaders to talks on Monday to try to find a solution to the wave of disruptive strikes across the UK.
The Prime Minister said that government departments had written to the relevant unions inviting them for talks.
Workers including nurses, postal staff and train drivers have taken industrial action to demand higher pay amid the cost of living crisis.
Sunak had previously said he wanted a “grown-up conversation” with public sector unions about pay deals coming into effect in the financial year starting next April.
But unions are calling for ministers to hold talks on their calls for higher pay for their members in the current financial year.
The prime minister said he wanted to hold talks with unions “about what is affordable, what is reasonable, what is responsible” in the country.
“The most pressing economic priority we have is to lower the cost of living, and controlling inflation is the best way to do that to ease the cost of living, not just for nurses but for everyone,” she added. .
Ambulance and nurse workers are due to strike again this month, and the government’s problems could soon be compounded with more cuts affecting the NHS.
The British Medical Association said on Friday that junior doctors would stage a 72-hour walkout in March, in which they will not provide emergency cover, if the strikes are backed in a vote that opens on Monday.
Meanwhile, teacher polls will conclude next week, with possible school strikes from the end of the month.
Strikes are also spreading across the civil service, with Unison organizing a one-day walkout on January 18 by Environment Agency staff, including those who maintain flood defences.
Unions responded with disdain to the government’s offer to sit down and discuss evidence both sides would be presenting to independent review bodies to inform next year’s public sector pay deals.
The GMB, which is leading strikes in some ambulance services, said unions representing health workers had been invited to meet health secretary Steve Barclay “soon” but would only call off strikes if there there was a new offer to resolve this year’s conflict. settlement of payments.
Emma Runswick, deputy chairwoman of the BMA board, said the government’s offer was “laughable” because the pay review body’s process was “not fit for purpose”.
Kate Bell, deputy general secretary of the TUC, said ministers “were making threats against the right to strike” rather than working towards a fair resolution of disputes.
Meanwhile, Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, indicated in an interview with Times Radio that she was prepared to soften the union’s demand for a 19 per cent pay rise for nurses, urging Barclay to “ walk into a room and meet me.” half way”.
RCN members are due to walk out for two more days this month, with ambulance workers represented by Unison also striking for a day.