WORCESTERSHIRE nurses have put down their placards this month after it was revealed they would not be involved in this week's strike action.

According to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the hospitals not participating in the national strike action today and tomorrow (Wednesday and Thursday).

Thousands of nurses across the UK are staging their third and fourth walkout over pay and will be walking out tomorrow as well.

A picket line had taken place outside the hospital earlier this month and Worcestershire RCN nurses are set to strike in February.

RCN members are campaigning for a pay rise of 5 per cent.

They believe that a pay rise will help tackle staff shortages by enabling the NHS to maintain current staff levels and recruit more nurses.

In recent weeks the government have tried to tackle the ongoing strike action by announcing a new proposed strike law.

The controversial anti-strike legislation cleared its first hurdle as the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill was considered in the House of Commons on Monday evening (January 16).

If the proposed legislation is passed this will require union members from key services to continue working to retain a "minimum level" of service during set strike days.

If employees are not compliant with the new legislation they may risk losing their jobs if they do not work when required.

One of the sectors which will be affected by this law is nursing.