On the eve of strike action in Northern Ireland, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, has given a video message to members:
“Colleagues, it’s been four years since you first took to the picket lines in Northern Ireland. The first-ever nursing strike here.
“It was your sheer determination and commitment to your patients that saw the return of the Executive here in January 2020, after three years.
“It was your determination also that saw the largest ever UK nursing strike last year. Again, working on behalf of our patients.
“We’ve said time and time again, we won’t stand by and allow politicians to continue to decimate our NHS.
“We will stand by our patients and we will continue to work for our patients.
“It’s immoral what’s happening to nurses in Northern Ireland. Once again seeing their pay drop behind that of nurses across the other countries of the UK.
“We will support the action tomorrow. We’ll stand by other public sector workers and say our patients deserve better and the people of Northern Ireland deserve better.
“Our patients are sitting on waiting lists year after year because our NHS is crumbling at the seams. So our nurses will not stand by and allow this to continue to happen.
“The public believe in you – and we’ve always stood by our public.
“So, let’s continue to work together and support the action that our nurses are taking.
“I support you and the College supports you.
“We will protect the nursing profession.
“We will advocate for our patients.
“And we will fight for the NHS.
“And I’m looking forward to seeing you again on the picket line tomorrow.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. The embargoed video message is available for broadcast use on request.
2. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) across all health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland will take strike action on 18 January 2024, for the third time in four years, to demand a return to pay parity with nursing staff in England.
3. Nursing staff in Northern Ireland are the worst paid in the UK. While nurses across the rest of the UK have been awarded a pay rise for 2023-2024, nursing staff in Northern Ireland on Agenda for Change contracts have been left with nothing during one of the worst cost-of-living crises in years.
4. Pat Cullen first led historic industrial action in Northern Ireland four years ago. It forced the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive to become functional and restored pay parity. It paved the way for nursing staff across the UK to strike for fair pay and patient safety.
