RCN Council limits full members’ subscription increase to 4p a week

Published: 27 July 2010

RCN Council has decided the subscription increase for the coming year must be no more than one per cent due to the economic climate.

At its meeting in July, Council looked at the economic conditions, considered the public sector pay freeze and RCN costs and decided the full member subscription must only increase by £1.93 a year – or less than 4p a week – from January 2011.

Health care assistant members’ subscriptions will also increase by one per cent – equivalent to less than 2.5p a week, while annual student membership will remain at £10.

Savings will continue to be found within the RCN, so that more can be spent on helping members through the unpredictable years ahead.

The RCN is also supporting more members through its Legal Department. In the last financial year it supported almost 600 members through NMC proceedings – nearly 200 more than in the previous year. During the same period it opened 638 new employment cases, in contrast to 464 in the previous year; and has 44 Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) cases under the new vetting and barring scheme.

Chair of Council Sandra James said: “Council carefully considered the subscription rise this year, knowing that the majority of our members will not be receiving a cost of living pay rise after April next year.

“By limiting the increase to just one per cent, we will continue to safeguard members’ interests. It makes sure the RCN can campaign to ensure patient care comes first while efficiencies are made, without increasing the financial burden on our members.”