Posted 01 May 2023 - 05:30
Posted 01 May 2023 - 05:30
News
Striking for the first time? Here’s what you need to know
Advice for nurses working in intensive care units, emergency departments and cancer care who have been asked to join the picket line for this round of strikes
Advice for nurses working in intensive care units, emergency departments and cancer care who have been asked to join the picket line for this round of strikes
For the first time, nurses working in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs) are taking to picket lines in the fight for fairer pay and working conditions.
Derogations have been dropped for bank holiday strikes
In a significant ramping up of industrial action the RCN has removed all derogations, meaning all nursing staff are able to strike.
Previously, nurses working in EDs, ICUs, cancer care and other services were not included in industrial action.
NHS leaders and the government have repeatedly urged the RCN to bring in exemptions to the strike to protect patient safety.
If you are striking for the first time today, here is what you need to know.
I provide life-preserving services and I’m worried about how my colleagues will cope. Should I go to work?
The RCN is urging every member who is eligible to strike to take part in industrial action, including those who work in life-preserving areas, such as intensive care.
It says it is down to the employer and ultimately the government to ensure patient safety.
An RCN spokesperson reiterated that they would expect employers ‘to cancel non-urgent clinical work and elective procedures due to take place over the strike period.’
They added: ‘We know this is a difficult task and there are exceptional circumstances where we would call a strike off in any hospital. But we must remember employers already make difficult staffing arrangements work on most days. Nurses are constantly having to "make do" with too few staff or not enough beds for people. This level of pressure cannot go on any longer.
‘Nurses have been left with no option because this government won’t listen – you cannot say they are too valuable to strike but not valuable enough to pay fairly.’
Can my employer make me go into work?
When the strike days were announced the RCN outlined that exemptions could be granted to employers in extreme circumstances and these will be arranged in advance. This might be if your hospital declares a major incident.
If no exceptions have been agreed between employers and unions then members cannot be asked to come into work on strike days. If your employer does request you to do so, it is advised to liaise with your picket supervisor.
On Wednesday 26 April, the RCN confirmed that no exemptions have yet been agreed for any employers.
Will striking affect my NMC registration?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has confirmed that it will not take fitness to practise action against nurses who take part in legal strike action.
However, the regulator said members should be mindful that the NMC code of conduct still applies and striking nurses should behave professionally at all times.
Equally, if you are working while others strike and something goes wrong that could affect your registration, the NMC confirmed that any investigation will ‘always take the healthcare context into account’.
If I strike on a bank holiday, do I lose my day off in lieu?
Yes. If you are rostered to work on a bank holiday but do not work that day for any reason, including going on strike, you will not be entitled to another day off in lieu.
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