Nurses threaten to strike for first time

NURSES have promised a “summer of discontent” as they threatened strikes for the first time in the history of the NHS.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) yesterday said it was prepared to ballot its members over a walkout if the Government failed to scrap a 1 per cent pay cap by the autumn.

The warning came after a poll revealed that fourfifths of respondents were in favour of going on strike.

The trade union said it would use the “opportunity” of the General Election combined with a “summer of protest” to try to secure better pay, which they argue will have decreased by 14 per cent against the cost of living by 2020 compared with 2010.

The threat of industrial action follows a prolonged dispute between junior doctors and the Government over pay and conditions, ending last year, which saw a series of strikes.

Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: “Nurses are at the end of their tether and they are either leaving the profession or they can make a point and take some form of industrial action. The current conditions in the NHS are driving people out of the profession or putting new members off entering it.”

The results of a threeweek survey by the union showed 91 per cent favoured industrial action short of a strike, while 78 per cent said they would be prepared to walk out. However, the finding was based on a turnout of around 19 per cent.

Trade union law would require a turnout of 50 per cent in an official ballot.

Nursing leaders insisted that strikes would not adversely affect patients.

A Conservative Party spokesman defended the “difficult decision on pay across the public sector”.