Largest-ever strike sets by nurses is planned

Web Desk

06th Nov, 2022. 07:47 pm
Share
- Listen
- Font size
  - Small
  - Medium
  - Large
- Dark Mode
- Save
- Print

Articles

Royal College of Nursing members voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action.
300,000 members of the RCN had been advised to go on strike over pay dispute.
Strikes would impact non-emergency care but not emergency care if approved by national union.

The largest nurses’ strike in history appears to be going forward. In the coming days, the Royal College of Nursing will announce the results of its vote, which was completed last week.

The full results are still being tallied, but according to RCN sources, a sizable majority of nurses voted in favor of taking action in a salary dispute.

The 300,000 members of the RCN had been advised to leave. Strikes, if they happen, would impact non-emergency care but not emergency care.

The vote featured a number of separate workplace-based ballots around the UK, and it’s likely that certain hospitals and services won’t participate if nurses don’t support action at the local level.

Nurses have been urged by the government to “seriously evaluate” the effect on patients.

But Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: “Huge numbers of staff – both experienced and newer recruits – are deciding they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued nor treated fairly.

She added: “Our strike action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. We have their support in doing this.”

Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden said the government had “well-oiled contingencies in place” for dealing with any strike action by nurses.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr. Dowden said essential services would be prioritized, “but of course there would be an impact as a result of a strike like that”.

“I would continue to urge nurses and others to resist to going out on strike even if they have voted to do so”, he added.

Also Read

Pandemic-weary Australian nurses go on strike

SYDNEY: Thousands of nurses walked off the job in Australia's largest city...

No UK country has come close to the 5% increase that the RCN had requested above the current RPI inflation rate, which is around 12%.

The average pay increase for NHS employees in England and Wales, including nurses, is 4.75%, with additional compensation going to the lowest paid.

In Scotland, a flat rate of little over £2,200, which equates to slightly more than 8% for a freshly licensed nurse, has replaced the earlier offer of 5% to NHS employees. A salary award for nurses has not yet been given in Northern Ireland.

The RCN had claimed during the vote that this year’s award for pay that was below inflation came after years of salary compression for nurses.

After accounting for inflation, research commissioned by the union indicated that average salary decreased by 6% between 2011 and 2021, as opposed to a 4.6% decline for the entire economy.

The starting pay for nurses in England is currently slightly over £27,000, and the highest paid nurses make about £55,000.

According to the RCN, the average annual salary for a full-time, experienced nurse was just over £32,000 in the previous year, which was in line with the national average.

However, the government claims that by making its award, it complied with the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body.

Additionally, despite a public sector wage freeze, it came after a 3% salary increase given last year in acknowledgment of efforts done during the pandemic.

In its 106-year history, the RCN has never polled all of its members about going on strike.

Nurses who are members of Unison in England walked out in 2014 over salary, while RCN members went on strike in Northern Ireland in 2019 for pay.

Numerous other significant health unions, including Unison, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB, and Unite, have begun or intend to conduct member ballots.

Largest-ever strike sets by nurses is planned

Web Desk

Articles