In September, record numbers of RCN members like you voted to tell the UK government it wasn’t doing enough for nursing. I went to the Labour party conference and announced the result of our NHS pay consultation in England as soon as the result was verified.
The government wanted to hear why the RCN is the only union that rejected the pay award and continues to stand up for your profession and patients.
It’s been an important week for showing the power of our members’ voices - I met Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP to convey your words. Your salary isn’t fair reward; you are not properly recognised for the work you do in terms of your pay band; your workplace isn’t well staffed; patients are lining corridors; care is compromised; there aren’t enough nursing students coming through; your overtime isn’t paid properly or at all; and the job takes a mental and physical toll.
The government did not offer easy answers – you would know better than to accept any. But for now, I feel ministers are listening and looking for solutions. We will keep the pressure on them and keep you updated on their response.
Today has seen a historic moment for our female-dominated profession with the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill to the UK parliament. The bill paves the way for the biggest advance in workers’ rights in a generation.
A fair agreement in social care, enshrined in law, and a new body to root out care worker exploitation are measures the RCN has long been calling for. Raising pay, rights and employment standards in the sector is now a step closer to reality.
The bill could transform the work of unions as well as the working lives of their members. The repeal of anti-trade union laws is long overdue, and nursing staff will no longer be silenced when standing up for their patients. Our profession was the only one to reject the NHS pay award and these reforms will give nursing staff greater power to organise, demand fair pay and improve working conditions.
It’s important that our work must not stop, we need to continue putting pressure on the government to make sure ministers keep their word. The biggest mistake the government could now make is standing still.
The proposals in the bill are good, but they can be great. There needs to be a more fundamental shift in how nursing is valued by those in power.
As the Voice of Nursing, RCN members like you can be active in our campaigns – please see how you can get involved – we need all members to be engaged and active in securing change for the profession and those who rely on it.
The government wanted to hear why the RCN is the only union that rejected the pay award and continues to stand up for your profession and patients.
It’s been an important week for showing the power of our members’ voices - I met Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP to convey your words. Your salary isn’t fair reward; you are not properly recognised for the work you do in terms of your pay band; your workplace isn’t well staffed; patients are lining corridors; care is compromised; there aren’t enough nursing students coming through; your overtime isn’t paid properly or at all; and the job takes a mental and physical toll.
The government did not offer easy answers – you would know better than to accept any. But for now, I feel ministers are listening and looking for solutions. We will keep the pressure on them and keep you updated on their response.
Today has seen a historic moment for our female-dominated profession with the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill to the UK parliament. The bill paves the way for the biggest advance in workers’ rights in a generation.
A fair agreement in social care, enshrined in law, and a new body to root out care worker exploitation are measures the RCN has long been calling for. Raising pay, rights and employment standards in the sector is now a step closer to reality.
The bill could transform the work of unions as well as the working lives of their members. The repeal of anti-trade union laws is long overdue, and nursing staff will no longer be silenced when standing up for their patients. Our profession was the only one to reject the NHS pay award and these reforms will give nursing staff greater power to organise, demand fair pay and improve working conditions.
It’s important that our work must not stop, we need to continue putting pressure on the government to make sure ministers keep their word. The biggest mistake the government could now make is standing still.
The proposals in the bill are good, but they can be great. There needs to be a more fundamental shift in how nursing is valued by those in power.
As the Voice of Nursing, RCN members like you can be active in our campaigns – please see how you can get involved – we need all members to be engaged and active in securing change for the profession and those who rely on it.
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