Crippling nurses strikes appear to be at an end, at least for now, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) failing its latest industrial action ballot.
It comes after union organised disruption to NHS care over the last six months contributed to thousands of appointments and procedures being cancelled.
RCN bosses needed a fresh strike mandate from its membership to carry on a series of devastating walkouts after their previous six-month period expired.
They called on members to reject a settlement offer from ministers of 5 per cent rise for this year and one-off bonus of up to £3,789 for last year in pursuit of a better deal.
The RCN’s failure to achieve another strike comes despite union boss Pat Cullen promising Glastonbury attendees that nurses would strike again.
The latest Royal College of Nursing strike ballot for England has failed to achieve a required 50 per cent membership turnout for further NHS industrial action. Pictured an RCN member on the picket line during a walkout in May
According to the Morning Star Ms Cullen told a left-leaning panel entitled Power in a Union: a Year of Strikes and Solidarity, that: ‘Taking strike action is the difference between paying your rent next month or standing up for yourself.
‘But the fight isn’t over. Nurses will strike again, but we strike for our patients.’
But today Ms Cullen admitted to members that the union’s latest ballot had failed.
In an email she wrote: ‘While the vast majority of members who returned their ballot papers voted in favour of strike action, we did not meet the 50 per cent turnout threshold necessary for us to be able to take further strike action.’
‘To every one of you who took part, whether by voting or encouraging others to, thank you. We have so much to be proud of.’
She added that while ‘disappointing’ she vowed to continue to fight for nurses to get a higher salary.
‘While this will be disappointing for many of you, the fight for the fair pay and safe staffing that our profession, our patients, and our NHS deserves, is far from over,’ she said.
‘We have started something special – the voice of nursing has never been stronger and we’re going to keep using it.’
The 106-year-old RCN has 300,000 members and under trade union law needed to convince 50 per cent of its NHS membership in England to vote in the ballot for it to be valid.
In addition, because the strike action covers the NHS, at least 40 per cent of the total eligible membership must have been in favour of the action for it to count.
The RCN said only 122,000 members voted in the latest ballot, about 43.5 per cent of the eligible membership, 6.5 per cent short of the legal threshold.
But they added among those who did vote around 84 per cent (some 100,000) were in favour of continuing the strike action.
It is understood the RCN will not seek to re-ballot its members over the 2022/23 or 2023/24 pays again.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay welcomed the end to the nursing strikes.
He wrote on the social media platform Twitter: ‘I hugely value nurses’ work & welcome the end to disruptive strikes so staff can continue caring for patients and cut waiting lists.
‘1M+ eligible NHS staff are receiving their pay rise & one-off payments this month.
And, with a hint to upcoming industrial action by doctors, he added: ‘I hope other unions recognise it’s time to end their strikes.’
NHS Confederation, a membership group for NHS services, also welcomed the result.
The body’s chief executive Matthew Taylor said: ‘Leaders will be grateful for the certainty that the result of the RCN ballot brings and will be pleased to have a full cohort of nursing staff available as we head into winter.’
‘However, while the vote has resulted in no more strikes, we must not overlook the concerns and conditions nurses are working in.
‘With 112,000 vacancies in the NHS and large numbers of nurses continuing to leave the service, the government must do all it in can to address workforce shortages by implementing a fully funded and long overdue workforce plan, so nurses and other health staff can feel supported in delivering essential care to their patients.’
More than half a million NHS appointments in England have been cancelled due to health service strikes since December, official figures show
Fellow NHS membership body, NHS Providers echoed these statements, saying they were ‘relieved’ there would be no more strikes.
But its chief executive Sir Julian Hartley warned that while the vote had failed, ministers mustn’t ignore the ‘strength of feeling’ from within the profession.
‘Trust leaders will of course be hugely relieved there will be no more strikes by nurses for the foreseeable future, but it is vital the government and RCN now take this opportunity to “reset” their relationship and to resolve wider, ongoing issues affecting the NHS workforce, including understaffing and burnout.
‘Anything less risks compounding the damaging legacy of increasingly long and drawn out industrial disputes between the government and different groups of healthcare staff.’
The failed vote brings to a close months of unprecedented, and bitter, strike action by the RCN.
Not only was it the first RCN strike in England but the dispute also saw the union at one point threaten to withdraw so-called ‘life and limb’ exceptions to industrial action.
The union had campaigned for a pay rise of about 5 per cent above inflation, at one point demanding a 19 per cent pay hike.
RCN officials argued such an increase was necessary to help their members combat the cost-of-living crisis as well as attract more nurses into working for the NHS, with some quitting to work in supermarkets for similar pay.
While the latest strike result means nurses will not down tools in the near future, the Government is still in open dispute with NHS junior doctors over pay.
British Medical Association (BMA) bosses just last week announced junior medics will undertake a crippling five-day strike next month — the biggest ever to rock the NHS.
The walkout will take place in England from 7am Thursday 13 July until 7am Tuesday 18 July.
It represents a huge escalation of the never-ending dispute between the union and ministers over pay in the health service.
The BMA is demanding an inflation-busting 35 per cent rise for its members.
Union officials bragged that the action would represent the ‘longest single walkout by doctors in the NHS’s history’.
But junior doctors could set to be offered an additional £1,000 on top of a 6 per cent pay rise in a bid to avert further devastating strikes.
It is understood that ministers are minded to accept the recommendation from the independent pay review body for the financial year 2023/24.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel
[ad_2]
Source link
hartford car insurance shop car insurance best car insurance quotes best online car insurance get auto insurance quotes auto insurance quotes most affordable car insurance car insurance providers car insurance best deals best insurance quotes get car insurance online best comprehensive car insurance best cheap auto insurance auto policy switching car insurance car insurance quotes auto insurance best affordable car insurance online auto insurance quotes az auto insurance commercial auto insurance instant car insurance buy car insurance online best auto insurance companies best car insurance policy best auto insurance vehicle insurance quotes aaa insurance quote auto and home insurance quotes car insurance search best and cheapest car insurance best price car insurance best vehicle insurance aaa car insurance quote find cheap car insurance new car insurance quote auto insurance companies get car insurance quotes best cheap car insurance car insurance policy online new car insurance policy get car insurance car insurance company best cheap insurance car insurance online quote car insurance finder comprehensive insurance quote car insurance quotes near me get insurance