28E. Local Pay
Ayrshire and Arran Branch
(R) In light of the Chancellor's comments and the increasing interest of political parties in all four countries in local pay bargaining, RCN Congress urges Council to take all the necessary steps to prevent its implementation.
Result
The resolution was passed.
For: 449 (99.12%)
Against: 4 (0.88%)
Abstain: 1
Debate report
Julie Lamberth on behalf of the Ayrshire and Arran branch presented a convincing argument in favour of this resolution. Local attempts to vary terms and conditions have already been rebuffed by the RCN, she said, but these attacks are certain to increase in the months ahead. Eroding national pay would be “selling nurses on the cheap,” stressed Julie.
“Cutting the real and relative value of nurses’ pay has made nursing less attractive as a career and has curtailed the movement of nurses around the country,” she said. “The RCN for years has worked alongside its sister unions to defend against proposals to attack national pay and conditions. The time has come for us to say ‘enough is enough’.”
Gareth Phillips from the Gwynedd branch added strength to Julie’s argument saying: “Nursing care is a valued resource wherever you are and the nurse who delivers that nursing care should be equally valued whether they live in Bangor or Bognor Regis.”
Other speakers warned about the “race to the bottom” local pay bargaining would cause and expressed fears that nurses generally would end up getting paid less. “Why should we be penalised because of where we live,” Gareth added. “We should be looking to close the gap between poorer and wealthy areas, not increasing it. Please vote for this resolution.”
Members in the hall did exactly that and the motion was passed with 99 per cent of the vote.
