RCN Nurse Strike: What You Need To Know

Sophie answers common questions about the RCN Nursing Strike, explaining what it's all about and why she will be standing on the picket line.

Introduction

Hi, guys. I'm here today to talk to you about the NHS strike. Now, these are words that we don't normally hear in the same sentence because for decades, we've been told that we're not allowed to strike. I've received a lot of questions from you guys about the strike.

Now, back in 1979, we were campaigning for a higher pay and although things have moved on since 1979, we have received the odd 1 or 2% pay rise, like we did following COVID. It is still not enough for what we go through and what we face every single day.

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Why Are Nurses Striking?

Now, a lot of our Nurses have had to seek out well-being services and experience post-traumatic stress disorder following the pandemic and COVID for what we have gone through and what we have seen, and this is just not reflected in our pay whatsoever.

Now, 300,000 of you have voted to strike, which is amazing. I also believe that, if we do receive a higher pay, then we'll be able to retain Nurses more easily.

We’ll be able to get a bigger uptake in our nursing students and be able to keep them if our pay is reflective of the work that we have to do and what we experience and go through.

We spend a lot more time with our colleagues and looking after patients than we actually do looking after our own families and it would be really great if we were recognised for that.

We spend a lot more time with our colleagues and looking after patients than we actually do looking after our own families and it would be really great if we were recognised for that.

Will Nurses Get Paid To Strike?

The main question that I've received is, will we get paid to strike? So unfortunately, if it is your day to work, we won't get paid to strike. You don't have to strike for both days.

You can just strike for the one or half a day or even if it's your day off, that would be a better option to strike.

What Do You Think?

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Can Anyone Strike?

Another question I've received about the strike is, can anyone strike? Now, anyone can strike who is part of the union, so that is Will College of Nursing, or Unison, and anyone from healthcare can strike.

It doesn't have to be a registered Nurse. A lot of people are concerned about how we will be seen as a profession, as Nurses, for striking. A lot of information in the media states that Nurses will be walking out, healthcare professionals will be walking out, and it's not quite true.

A lot of information in the media states that Nurses will be walking out, healthcare professionals will be walking out, and it's not quite true.

We're campaigning for what we deserve, like other professions, postal service, train drivers, who often strike and get the necessary pay that they also deserve.

In comparison, I get a lot of patients who say to me, "How do you do your job for such little pay?" The general public know that we get very little pay for what we go through.

So, let's stand together and tell the government what we deserve.

Let Your Employer Know If You Plan To Strike

Now, it is good to know that, if you are deciding to strike on your day to work, you need to let your employer know or your line manager know.

They can make a contingency plan for the Nurses who are not in work so that patients' well-being and care is not compromised and put at risk while Nurses are striking.

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When Are The Nursing Strikes Taking Place?

The strikes will be taking place on the 15th and the 20th of December, 2022.

The strikes will be taking place on the 15th and the 20th of December, 2022.

They'll be taking place across the whole of the UK outside of your workplaces, hospitals, community centers, GP surgeries, prisons, but mainly they'll be taking place in the big towns and big cities.

It's important to check with your trust or your employer whether that area is striking outside of the workplace.

Why I Will Be Striking

I originally wanted to do the video to provide pros and cons of the strike and be an unbiased Nurse, however, as you can probably see, I'm very for the strike.

I'm very for fighting for what we deserve as a profession and I'm so happy that so many of you have voted to strike. It will be amazing to see so many Nurses and healthcare professionals out on the picket line with your placards campaigning for what we deserve.

So, I really hope to see you all there. Thank you for watching. I hope the video's been useful for you. Take care and keep doing the amazing work that you're doing out there. Thank you.