RCN AGM offers full membership to health care assistants
Published: 26 October 2011
Members of the Royal College of Nursing have today voted overwhelmingly to make health care assistants, health care support workers and assistant practitioners full members of the RCN.
Announcing the result, Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said that the strong vote in favour of the resolution (81.2 per cent) was recognition of the important role health care assistants and assistant practitioners play in the nursing team. Dr Carter said: “It has never been more important for all members of the nursing team to stand together to protect jobs and patient care. I am absolutely delighted that our members have taken this decisive step to welcome all nursing colleagues into the RCN.”
Sandra James, the outgoing Chair of RCN Council and Kath McCourt who today takes up her role as the new Chair of RCN Council, both said they were delighted that all members of the RCN will now have a voice at the top table. The resolution will create two new seats on RCN Council for health practitioners such as health care assistants, assistant practitioners and health care support workers.
Two other resolutions were voted on at today’s annual general meeting. RCN members voted to amend the winding up clause in the RCN’s Royal Charter to ensure that like other membership organisations the RCN can attain mutual trading status for tax purposes.
A vote to allow RCN Council to approve annual subscription increases over the current rate of up to two per cent over the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in June of any given year was not approved because it failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority. Dr Carter said that the decision had already been made not to increase members’ subscriptions in 2012 because of the extremely difficult economic climate.
Vote results
Health practitioners
That the RCN standing orders are amended so that health practitioners (such as health care assistants and assistant practitioners) can become full members of the RCN and be represented on RCN Council through the establishment of two seats.
Passed 81.2% in favour, 18% against
Membership subscriptions
That the RCN standing orders are amended to allow RCN Council to approve annual subscription increases over the current rate of up to 2% over the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in June of any given year, with the proviso that members are asked to review this arrangement with a vote in general meeting every five years.
Did not pass 56.6% in favour but 43.4% against (against a requirement for a two-thirds majority)
Winding up clause
Subject to the consent of Her Majesty the Queen in Privy Council, that Article 22.2 of the Charter be amended to ensure that any surplus in the event of the RCN being wound up is distributed among the members of the College.
Passed 98.4% in favour, 1.6% against.
Read more about the RCN AGM in 2011 RCN Annual General Meeting. Watch the AGM again in the 2011 RCN Annual General Meeting webcast.