Representatives are hailing the upcoming vote as the largest single ballot ever undertaken by the profession in the UK, with nearly 350,000 nursing staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland set to participate in deciding on a proposed 3.6% pay raise starting Monday.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has criticized the proposed increase as “grotesque” and emphasizes the significance of this vote in determining potential follow-up actions, including a strike ballot.
In response to the pay hike, the government highlights that nurses will now receive over £30,000 as a starting salary for the first time, aiming to address the grievances that led to strikes among nursing staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland during late 2022 and the ensuing winter, with some members of
health unions also walking out due to pay concerns.
Given the looming prospect of further industrial action, this vote marks a milestone in the profession’s history in the UK. Patricia Marquis, RCN England’s executive director, clarified on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the vote serves as a consultation on the pay increment at this stage, refraining from being a direct call for strikes.
The RCN has not specified a deadline for concluding the consultation process. Various ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have announced pay adjustments based on recommendations from review bodies, including a 5.4% rise for resident doctors, a 4% increase for consultants and senior doctors, and a 3.6% raise for nurses and other healthcare workers.
Professor Nicola Ranger, the RCN General Secretary, voiced concerns over nursing being consistently undervalued in terms of pay, despite being highly esteemed by the public. She highlighted the impact of over a decade of salary degradation on nursing staff, leading to a surge in resignations.
Ranger stressed the need to demonstrate appreciation for nurses’ contributions, as hundreds of thousands of NHS nursing staff prepare to weigh in on whether the proposed 3.6% raise is sufficient.
The Department of Health and Social Care for England noted that this raise marks the second above-inflation increment for NHS staff in the past 10 months, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing compensation for healthcare professionals.
Meanwhile, resident doctors in England are already undergoing a strike ballot due to pay concerns, while other healthcare unions are also organizing votes on the revised pay scales. These developments might cast a shadow over the imminent 10-year plan for the NHS in England, with the Scottish government having already reached an 8% two-year pay agreement with health unions.