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RCN members asked to vote on two proposals in extraordinary general meeting

College received 1,000-strong petition after two disqualifications in its presidential election

College received 1,000-strong petition after two candidates were disqualified in its presidential election

RCN headquarters in Cavendish Square, London
RCN headquarters, Cavendish Square, London

The terms for the upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the RCN membership have been announced.

Extraordinary general meeting called to discuss aftermath of election disqualifications

The EGM – to be held at 11am on 27 November – was called after a petition from at least 1,000 members was received by the college in the wake of two disqualifications in the RCN presidential election.

RCN members will be asked to vote on two proposals:

  • An extension of up to six months for the two-year term of office for the RCN president and deputy president, with the college citing ‘exceptional circumstances’ as the reason.
  • A comprehensive review of the governance of the college, to be led by RCN council.

Petitioners’ position to be presented at online RCN extraordinary general meeting

The meeting will include a presentation of the petitioners’ position by RCN member Linda Bailey, a statement from RCN council chair Dave Dawes, and a statement from the college’s general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held online with details of how this will work in practice to be announced in the coming weeks.

The proposal for extended terms for the RCN president and deputy president will need a two thirds majority vote in favour to pass, while the review of governance proposal will require a simple majority.

Agenda includes extension of presidential terms and a vote on governance review

If the extension of presidential terms goes ahead it will mean current RCN president Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, who was disqualified while seeking election in the RCN presidential campaign earlier this year, could continue in the role to mid-2021.

Professor Rafferty’s term in office was due to end on 1 January 2021.

Since deputy president Yvonne Coghill resigned this week, the proposed extension is not expected to affect incoming RCN deputy president Tracey Budding, who is due to take up her position on 1 January 2021.

If the vote on a governance review is successful, it will be the second such review to be held in recent years after an independent review into RCN leadership was published earlier this year.

That review was the result of an EGM called by RCN members after the college’s miscommunication of the 2018 Agenda for Change pay deal in England.

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NHS Employers (2018) Agenda for Change


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