Nurses get public backing for action

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is this week balloting nurses over action related to pay, with almost three-quarters of the general public backing any potential industrial action.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 adults revealed that 74 per cent would support nurses if this was the decided course to be taken, believing the pay award granted to them is unfair.

“Day in, day out, nurses are there for their patients – they will be heartened to know that they can count on the general public for support at this difficult time,” said Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the RCN.

Dr Carter added that potential industrial action is “not a course of action we [the RCN] take lightly” and that the college hopes “industrial action can be avoided” through talks with the government.

Nurses are hoping that the government will pay the recommended 2.5 per cent pay award backdated until April 2007, with the issue of whether action should be taken on this one of two on the ballot paper. The other concerns what type of industrial action would be appropriate in the balloted’s workplace.

The RCN has five main objectives, according to its website. These are to represent, influence, support and protect, develop and build, all to the benefit of nurses.