Nurses set to vote on first ever strike in row over pay cap
NURSES are to vote on whether to stage their first ever strike in the history of the NHS.
They will hold a ballot this autumn over industrial action in a row over pay.
In a further sign of anger, they are plotting a ‘summer of protests’ outside hospitals and Parliament.
These will include rallies and marches in an attempt to galvanise the support of other nurses and the public.
The unprecedented measures were announced by nursing leaders yesterday at the Royal College of Nursing conference in Liverpool. They were agreed after an online poll involving 50,000 nurses in which 91 per cent voted in favour of industrial action – such as working to rule or refusing to do admin.
A further 78 per cent said they are prepared to stage an all- out strike. Nurses are furious over a 1 per cent pay cap enforced by the Government in 2015 which is due to last until 2019/20.
The average salary for a nurse is about £23,300 although those in the most senior roles can earn £35,000. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) claims that several pay freezes or caps imposed by the Government since 2010 have resulted in an average pay cut of 14 per cent when compared to inflation and the cost of living.
They say that is leading to growing numbers of nurses leaving the profession or moving overseas, leaving hospitals dangerously understaffed.
Figures compiled by the RCN this weekend showed that one in nine nursing posts are unfilled – the equivalent of 40,000 nurses.
The number of vacant nursing posts has doubled since 2013, said the RCN, which obtained the figures from NHS trusts in England.
The union said it would give the new Government a chance to lift the pay cap after the election. If it refuses, nurses will step up the pressure with protests this summer followed by a ballot.
That will involve all 270,000 nurses who are members of the RCN – there are 350,000 nurses in England. Michael Brown, chairman of the RCN Council, said: ‘Our members have given us the very clear message that they can’t and won’t take any more. This is an unprecedented show of anger and frustration over the Government’s pay policy. Politicians must now listen and tell us what they will do about nursing pay. It’s a message to all parties that the crisis in nursing recruitment must be put centre stage in this election.
‘The RCN has never gone on strike before, so balloting our members would be a very signifi- cant step. We’ve heard from members that they want to send a much tougher message to the Government which is why we will be leading them in a summer of protest activity.
‘They have been clear that if the next Government doesn’t respond and lift the unreasonable cap on nursing pay, they want us to ballot on industrial action. It would be the first time RCN members came out and took industrial action in our 100-year history.’
A wave of strikes by junior doctors last year led to huge disruption for hospitals and resulted in hundreds of thousands of operations being cancelled.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: ‘Nurses have been treated like dirt by the Conservatives for far too long. They are working more hours, for less pay and with higher levels of stress, meaning more pressures on the NHS and worse outcomes for patients.’
A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘ Our nurses do a fantastic job. We’ve had to take difficult decisions on pay across the public sector given the deficit we inherited – while continuing to boost the NHS budget so patients get high-quality care.
‘We’ve prioritised increasing the number of nurses to help those already working hard, with 12,100 more on our wards since 2010.’
However, senior Tories are expected to snub the conference.
Both Jeremy Corbyn and Mr Farron will address 3,000 nurses later today promising to improve pay and working hours.
But although the Conservative party was invited by the RCN, they are yet to confirm if Theresa May or Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will attend.
‘They won’t take it any more’