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| Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike | Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The biggest ever strike by nurses looks set to go ahead. | The biggest ever strike by nurses looks set to go ahead. |
| The Royal College of Nursing is due to unveil the results of its ballot, which ended last week, in the next few days. | The Royal College of Nursing is due to unveil the results of its ballot, which ended last week, in the next few days. |
| The final results are being counted but RCN sources say a large majority of nurses have voted in favour of action in a dispute over pay. | The final results are being counted but RCN sources say a large majority of nurses have voted in favour of action in a dispute over pay. |
| The RCN had recommended to its 300,000 members that they walk out. If strikes take place, they would affect non-urgent but not emergency care. | The RCN had recommended to its 300,000 members that they walk out. If strikes take place, they would affect non-urgent but not emergency care. |
| The vote has involved a series of individual workplace-based ballots across the UK and if nurses do not back action at a local level it is possible some hospitals and services will not be involved. | |
| The government had appealed to nurses to "carefully consider" the impact on patients. | The government had appealed to nurses to "carefully consider" the impact on patients. |
| But Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: "Huge numbers of staff - both experienced and newer recruits - are deciding they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued nor treated fairly. | But Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: "Huge numbers of staff - both experienced and newer recruits - are deciding they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued nor treated fairly. |
| She added: "Our strike action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. We have their support in doing this." | She added: "Our strike action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. We have their support in doing this." |
| The RCN had called for a rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate which currently stands at above 12%, but no UK nation has offered close to that. | The RCN had called for a rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate which currently stands at above 12%, but no UK nation has offered close to that. |
| In England and Wales, NHS staff, including nurses, have been given an average of 4.75% more, with extra for the lowest paid. | In England and Wales, NHS staff, including nurses, have been given an average of 4.75% more, with extra for the lowest paid. |
| In Scotland, 5% was initially offered to NHS staff, but that has been changed to a flat rate of just over £2,200, which works out at just over 8% for a newly-qualified nurse. In Northern Ireland, nurses are yet to receive a pay award. | In Scotland, 5% was initially offered to NHS staff, but that has been changed to a flat rate of just over £2,200, which works out at just over 8% for a newly-qualified nurse. In Northern Ireland, nurses are yet to receive a pay award. |
| NHS services may have to be cut to fund pay award | NHS services may have to be cut to fund pay award |
| Record number of nurses quitting the NHS | Record number of nurses quitting the NHS |
| During the ballot, the RCN had argued this year's below-inflation pay award came after years of squeezes on nurse's salaries. | During the ballot, the RCN had argued this year's below-inflation pay award came after years of squeezes on nurse's salaries. |
| Research commissioned by the union has found average pay fell by 6% between 2011 and 2021 - once inflation was taken into account - compared with a 4.6% drop for the whole economy. | Research commissioned by the union has found average pay fell by 6% between 2011 and 2021 - once inflation was taken into account - compared with a 4.6% drop for the whole economy. |
| Starting salaries for nurses in England are currently just above £27,000, rising to nearly £55,000 for the most senior nurses. | Starting salaries for nurses in England are currently just above £27,000, rising to nearly £55,000 for the most senior nurses. |
| The RCN said the average pay for a full-time established nurse was just above £32,000 last year - similar to average pay across the economy. | The RCN said the average pay for a full-time established nurse was just above £32,000 last year - similar to average pay across the economy. |
| But the government has argued it has met the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in giving its award. | But the government has argued it has met the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in giving its award. |
| And it followed a 3% pay rise last year, in recognition of work during the pandemic, despite a public-sector pay freeze. | And it followed a 3% pay rise last year, in recognition of work during the pandemic, despite a public-sector pay freeze. |
| This is the first time the RCN has balloted all its members for strike action in its 106-year history. | This is the first time the RCN has balloted all its members for strike action in its 106-year history. |
| In 2019, RCN members went on strike in Northern Ireland over pay, while nurses who are members of Unison in England walked out in 2014 over pay. | In 2019, RCN members went on strike in Northern Ireland over pay, while nurses who are members of Unison in England walked out in 2014 over pay. |
| A host of other major health unions, including Unison, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB and Unite, have all started to, or are planning to, ballot members. | A host of other major health unions, including Unison, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB and Unite, have all started to, or are planning to, ballot members. |