Nurses are about to take strike action for better pay. This is a significant step and the first time the Royal College of Nursing has called a national strike.
Nursing
Nurses held a national pay strike on 15 December, the first ever in the history of the Royal College of Nursing, with another to follow on the 20th. So far the government is avoiding meaningful negotiations.
The NHS is a prime example of what happens when governments refuse to govern or indeed make any decision. Now the government is attacking the very people struggling to keep providing care in a mess of its own making…
On 15 December nurses conducted the first-ever national strike in the 106-year history of the Royal College of Nursing, followed by a second strike day on 20 December. The government is so far avoiding meaningful negotiations.
Nurses in England were called on by the RCN to take national strike action for the first time. This is paused for last minute talks with the government.
From 1 to 3 March Royal College of Nursing members at every employer in England with a strike mandate will be taking action including on night shifts.
Importing nurses from other countries is no answer to NHS staff shortages. Retaining nurses already working would be a step in the right direction.
Ninety-three per cent of the 51,245 nurses who have joined the NHS in the past four years have been recruited from overseas.
Ninety-three per cent of nurses who joined the NHS in the last four years have been recruited from overseas. This startling fact was revealed by NHS England’s chief nurse in December.