Nurses will go on strike after historic voting
NURSING staff at the majority of NHS employers across the UK have voted to go on strike over pay.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said industrial action will take place in the NHS trusts or health boards that have met the legal requirements. Many of the biggest hospitals in England will see strike action by RCN members, but others narrowly missed the legal turnout thresholds to qualify for action. This has been the first statutory ballot on industrial action across the UK in the 106-year history of the RCN.
Industrial action is expected to begin before the end of this year and the RCN’s mandate to organise strikes runs until early May 2023, six months after members finished voting. RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “Anger has become action – our members are saying enough is enough. The voice of nursing in the UK is strong and I will make sure it is heard. Our members will no longer tolerate a financial knife-edge at home and a raw deal at work.
“Ministers must look in the mirror and ask how long they will put nursing staff through this. While we plan our strike action, next week’s Budget is the UK Government’s opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. Across the country, politicians have the power to stop this at any point. This action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. Standards are falling too low and we have strong public backing for our campaign to raise them. This winter, we are asking the public to show nursing staff you are with us.”
Health Secretary Steve Barclay described the results of the ballot as “disappointing”. He said: “We are all hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, including nurses, and deeply regret that some union members have voted for industrial action.
“These are challenging times, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year. This is on top of a 3% pay increase last year when public sector pay was frozen and wider government support with the cost of living. Our priority is keeping patients safe during any strikes. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption.”
Sara Gorton, head of health at Unison, which has been balloting its members in the NHS for strikes, said: “This is loud a wake-up call to the Government. Hundreds of thousands more nurses, paramedics, cleaners, health care assistants and other NHS employees are still to decide if they will be striking for better pay and staffing.
“Now is the time for swift action to avoid a damaging dispute. A strike across the NHS this winter is not inevitable. Unions want to work with ministers to solve the NHS staffing crisis and its impact on patient care, but that must start with another pay rise for health workers.”
Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chairwoman of the British Medical Association council said: “Doctors offer our support and solidarity to nursing colleagues following this historic ballot for industrial action. Like us, nurses are showing that they have had enough of being undervalued by this Government.”