This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
RCN considers strike action
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is running a survey for it 270,000 members on whether they want to strike before it makes the decision to issue a formal ballot.
The RCN warned that a combination of pay freezes and caps on pay rises since 2010 have effectively led to a 14 per cent pay cut due to the rising cost of living. The union claimed unprecedented pressure in the NHS has meant that nurses have never worked harder, and for so little.
The survey will ask nurses if they are interested in other forms of industrial action, such as working only their contracted hours or refusing to do work expected of more senior staff.
Janet Davies, the chief executive of the RCN, said: "Years of real-terms pay cuts have left too many struggling to make ends meet. Nurses should not have to fund the NHS deficit from their own pay packets.
"Whatever nurses decide, it is becoming clear that their goodwill cannot be relied on indefinitely.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The dedication and sheer hard work of our nurses is crucial to delivering world-class patient care — that's why the NHS offers flexible working, training and development opportunities, competitive pay and an excellent pension scheme.
"As is usual practice, the government accepted independent recommendations about this year's pay uplift.
"Ensuring pay is affordable helps protect jobs - there are an extra 12,100 nurses on our wards since 2010 - which means frontline NHS services are protected at a time of rising demand."
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