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Deadline nears in pay ballot for RCN members in England and Wales

NHS nurses have until Tuesday midday to register willingness to take industrial action over 3% offer
Three dimensional image shows characters representing 3% weighed down by a large, jagged red arrow pointing upwards

NHS nurses have until Tuesday midday to register their willingness to take industrial action over 3% offer

Three dimensional image shows characters representing 3% weighed down by a large, jagged red arrow pointing upwards
Image: iStock

Time is running out for nurses in England and Wales to say whether they’re willing to take industrial action over a 3% pay offer.

RCN members have until midday on Tuesday 30 November to cast their vote in the college’s ballot on the government’s 2021-22 pay offer, including the possibility of strike action.

Members urged to vote on crucial issue

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen urged members to have their say on the crucial issue. ‘It’s been a long journey but now is the time to speak up for ourselves and our patients, who will suffer as a result of the government’s ill-thought-through pay proposals,’ she said.

‘You have seen the impact of long-standing staff shortages on patient care where you work, and these will only get worse if ministers keep ignoring the voice of nursing.’

Nurses are being asked if they would strike or take action short of a strike

Members working for the NHS in England on Agenda for Change contracts are being asked if they are willing to participate in strike action, or take action short of a strike, such as working their contracted hours only.

In an earlier ballot, 92% of RCN members who voted said the pay offer for 2021-22 was unacceptable. The RCN has been campaigning for a 12.5% pay rise in the NHS, arguing it will help prevent an exodus of nursing staff.

The indicative ballot will not authorise industrial action, but will be used to inform the RCN’s next steps in separate disputes over pay. A statutory industrial action ballot would be required before any action could take place.

Nurses in Scotland have said they are prepared to strike over their 4% pay offer, with 60% of RCN Scotland members who voted in an indicative ballot supporting strike action. RCN Scotland instigated a formal trade dispute with the Holyrood government in June after its NHS members overwhelmingly rejected the 4% pay award.

In October, the RCN lodged a formal trade dispute with the Welsh government in response to a decision to impose a 3% pay award without further discussions.


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