Posted 04 November 2021 - 13:42
Posted 04 November 2021 - 13:42
News
Fair pay petition goes to PM as voting on possible strike action begins
NHS is reaching a ‘critical’ stage, with nurses leaving the profession, warns RCN
The NHS is reaching a ‘critical’ stage, with low morale, staff shortages and nurses leaving the profession, the RCN warns
Nurses’ morale has never been so low, the government has been warned, as the profession begins voting on whether to take industrial action in the ongoing dispute over NHS pay.
The RCN said the NHS is reaching a ‘critical’ stage, with staff shortages and nurses leaving the profession.
Fair pay petition gathers 160,000 signatures from nurses, patients and the public
As part of the RCN campaign against the government’s controversial 3% pay award, members delivered a petition for fair pay to 10 Downing Street on Thursday. It has been signed by more than 160,000 nurses, patients and members of the public.
The college has launched an indicative ballot of members in England and Wales for the 2021-22 pay award. It asks whether they are willing to take any form of industrial action, such as strike action or action short of a strike, or if they would support colleagues to take industrial action even if they chose not to themselves.
The ballot closes on 30 November, and a further ballot would have to be held before any action begins.
After handing in the petition, RCN trade union committee chair Graham Revie said: ‘Nurses have clearly rejected the pay rise as unacceptable and the ballot will find out what they want to do.
‘Morale has never been so low among nursing staff. They feel valued by the public, but not by the government.’
Nursing staff worse off in real terms
RCN members have already expressed their anger at the 3% rise, with 92% of respondents to an earlier consultative ballot in England describing it as unacceptable.
The RCN said that with inflation forecast to be around 4%, nursing staff will be worse off in real terms, warning many are considering leaving the profession.
Meanwhile, an indicative ballot for RCN members in Scotland closes on 8 November. No formal pay announcement has been made in Northern Ireland.
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