Wednesday 2 November 2022 12:49 PM 100-year-old Union's ballot ends as thousands vote for on EVER mass NHS walk-out trends now

Wednesday 2 November 2022 12:49 PM 100-year-old Union's ballot ends as thousands vote for on EVER mass NHS walk-out trends now
Wednesday 2 November 2022 12:49 PM 100-year-old Union's ballot ends as thousands vote for on EVER mass NHS walk-out trends now

Wednesday 2 November 2022 12:49 PM 100-year-old Union's ballot ends as thousands vote for on EVER mass NHS walk-out trends now

Nurses could walk off the job later this month as the first NHS workers to take to the picket line over pay this winter. 

Britain's nursing union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), closed its historic strike action ballot of its 300,000 members today.

The 106-year-old union is demanding nurses receive a cost-of-living pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation which currently sits at 12.3 per cent. 

This is far above No10's current offer, which amounts to roughly 4 per cent. Bowing to union pressure could cost taxpayers an extra £1billion.

Results of the RCN ballot could be announced as early as next week.

If nurses vote to go ahead with a walk-out, law requires the strike be held in England, Scotland and Wales within six months of today. It sets up the possibility of a walk-out in the spring. 

However, any action must be held within one month of the ballot closing in Northern Ireland.

It means nurses there could fire the starting gun of the NHS's winter of discontent, potentially before the end of November. 

The Royal College of Nurses wants nurses to get a pay rise 5 per cent above inflation, far above the around 4 per cent being offered by No10

The Royal College of Nurses wants nurses to get a pay rise 5 per cent above inflation, far above the around 4 per cent being offered by No10

NHS nurses strike action explained 

What is happening?

Britain's nursing union , the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), has closed a historic strike ballot over pay levels for NHS nurses.

What does the union want?

The union wants nurses to get a pay rise 5 per cent above inflation, which currently sits around 12 per cent. This is far above the Government's offer of about 4 per cent.

What happens now the ballot is closed? 

The RCN will tally the votes per UK  nation with the results expected to be announced within the next few weeks. 

What result is needed for nurses to go on strike? 

Trade union laws differ per UK nation.

In England and Scotland, 50 per cent of the eligible membership must vote for the ballot to be valid, and at least 40 per cent of votes must be in favour of the action for the result to count. 

For Wales, at least 50 per cent of the eligible membership must vote but only a simple majority is needed to determine the result.

Northern Ireland has the least restrictions on strike action ballots, only a simple majority of those who vote is required with no minimum turnout threshold. 

When could nurses go on strike?

Northern Ireland requires strike action to take place within one month of the ballot closing, so before December 3.

The law in England, Scotland and Wales states strike action has to be held within six months of the ballot closing, so between now and the start of May. 

Have any dates been announced?

No. It is also unclear if the strike will be held continuously, as in for multiple days in a row, or on certain days spaced throughout the month, for example. 

Won't a strike put patients in danger?

Unlike other staff groups who take strike action like train drivers, nurses need to maintain a minimum staffing level to keep patients currently in hospital safe as well as for any emergency admissions.

So some nurses will be chosen to be exempt from the strike to provide this minimum level of service.

The exact numbers remaining on the job will be negotiated locally between the RCN and each NHS Trust/Board. 

If some nurses are still working what's the point of a strike?

While life-saving care will be provided a nurses strike is likely to lead to cancellation of hundreds of routine operations like hip or knee replacements or diagnostic tests such as scans for cancer. 

Similar large-scale strike action by junior doctors in 2016 led to the cancellation of 100,000 patient appointments.

Can nurses be sacked for striking?

No. NHS workers cannot legally be sacked if they participate in official and lawful industrial action. 

Will the Government cave to RCN demands?

Unknown. But if the No10 gives

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