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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/06/thousands-nursing-staff-protest-parliament-pay-cap
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| Thousands of nursing staff to protest outside parliament over pay | Thousands of nursing staff to protest outside parliament over pay |
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| About 2,000 nursing staff are expected to take part in a demonstration outside parliament on Wednesday afternoon demanding that the government lift the pay cap. | About 2,000 nursing staff are expected to take part in a demonstration outside parliament on Wednesday afternoon demanding that the government lift the pay cap. |
| The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says the 1% cap on public sector pay, which has been in place for seven years, has seen nursing pay fall by 14% in real-terms since 2010. The RCN is threatening industrial action if the cap is not scrapped in the autumn budget. | The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says the 1% cap on public sector pay, which has been in place for seven years, has seen nursing pay fall by 14% in real-terms since 2010. The RCN is threatening industrial action if the cap is not scrapped in the autumn budget. |
| The demonstration has been timed to begin immediately after the first prime minister’s questions of the new parliamentary year. During the election campaign Theresa May was criticised for saying there were “complex reasons” why nurses were using food banks. | The demonstration has been timed to begin immediately after the first prime minister’s questions of the new parliamentary year. During the election campaign Theresa May was criticised for saying there were “complex reasons” why nurses were using food banks. |
| Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: “Experienced nursing staff are leaving in droves – not because they don’t like the job, but because they can’t afford to stay, while the next generation do not see their future in an undervalued profession. | Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: “Experienced nursing staff are leaving in droves – not because they don’t like the job, but because they can’t afford to stay, while the next generation do not see their future in an undervalued profession. |
| “If the government fails to announce a change of direction in the budget, then industrial action by nursing staff immediately goes on the table.” | “If the government fails to announce a change of direction in the budget, then industrial action by nursing staff immediately goes on the table.” |
| Members of the RCN are taking a day of leave to join the protest, which will also be addressed by the actor Tony Robinson and comedian Rob Delaney. | Members of the RCN are taking a day of leave to join the protest, which will also be addressed by the actor Tony Robinson and comedian Rob Delaney. |
| Midday today! Parliament Square! Scrap the Cap! Scrap the Cap! Scrap the Cap #fairdealfornurses | Midday today! Parliament Square! Scrap the Cap! Scrap the Cap! Scrap the Cap #fairdealfornurses |
| In May, more than 50,000 members of the RCN voted in a poll on pay, with eight in 10 saying they were prepared to go on strike if the pay cap was not lifted. Ninety per cent said they would support industrial action short of a walkout. | In May, more than 50,000 members of the RCN voted in a poll on pay, with eight in 10 saying they were prepared to go on strike if the pay cap was not lifted. Ninety per cent said they would support industrial action short of a walkout. |
| The union says there are 40,000 nursing vacancies leaving health and care services without safe and effective staffing. This year, the Nursing and Midwifery Council revealed that more midwives and nurses were leaving the profession in the UK than joining for the first time on record, with the number departing having risen by 51% in just four years. | The union says there are 40,000 nursing vacancies leaving health and care services without safe and effective staffing. This year, the Nursing and Midwifery Council revealed that more midwives and nurses were leaving the profession in the UK than joining for the first time on record, with the number departing having risen by 51% in just four years. |
| To coincide with the protest, the RCN has published research it commissioned from YouGov which found that seven in 10 voters believe the NHS lacks adequate nursing staff. A similar proportion believe nurses are underpaid for their work, including a majority of Conservative voters. | To coincide with the protest, the RCN has published research it commissioned from YouGov which found that seven in 10 voters believe the NHS lacks adequate nursing staff. A similar proportion believe nurses are underpaid for their work, including a majority of Conservative voters. |
| YouGov also found that more than half of the 1,624 adults polled on Thursday and Friday last week were willing to pay more tax to make the NHS safer, including a majority of Tory voters. | YouGov also found that more than half of the 1,624 adults polled on Thursday and Friday last week were willing to pay more tax to make the NHS safer, including a majority of Tory voters. |
| Davies said: “The public can see the shortage of nurses for themselves. Ministers are significantly out of touch with public opinion. They should heed this warning, scrap the pay cap and help to recruit thousands more nurses for a safer NHS.” | Davies said: “The public can see the shortage of nurses for themselves. Ministers are significantly out of touch with public opinion. They should heed this warning, scrap the pay cap and help to recruit thousands more nurses for a safer NHS.” |