Laura and Julie explain how they’ve used their campaigning experience to develop a new resource to help reps plan campaign action and harness the support of members
“The idea behind the resource is to empower reps and their members to speak up,” says Laura Duffell. “And to give them the support and knowledge to campaign for things they care about in the right way.”
Laura, who is Chair of the RCN’s inner south east London branch, was keen for the resource pack to be practical. “I wanted to make sure we didn’t use complicated language,” says Laura. “Nursing staff don’t have time to sit and read pages and pages.
“We wanted it to get reps thinking about the small things they can encourage members to do. Things that won’t make life harder or take too much time.”
Giving reps the right tools
The pack, which includes a booklet, a fold-out poster and online guidance, outlines practical steps on how to plan and carry out campaign action.
“The key thing is that it gives reps the tools to come up with their own ideas,” says RCN steward and safety rep Julie Lamberth, who was also part of the project group. “It helps them decide what will work in their own workplace and how to get members involved locally.”
The project group, which included reps and members from all four UK countries and RCN staff, held regular virtual meetings to discuss and develop the resource materials.
The key thing is that it gives reps the tools to come up with their own ideas and to decide what will work in their own workplace
“I found it quite challenging at first,” says Laura. “There was a steep learning curve as I hadn’t worked on something like this before. But it was also really rewarding. I feel like our input made a real difference and the final product is something nursing staff can use.
“This is something people can look at quickly, and easily pick out the bit they want to know more about – it’s not buried in lots of extra information.”
Julie adds: “We also took a draft of the resource to the UK Joint Reps Conference in October. It was great to get wider feedback and for reps to share their experiences and ideas. My personal tip is for reps is to use their local RCN communications team. The staff can support you, especially with materials.”
Getting started
Reflecting on her recent involvement in the RCN’s safe staffing campaign in England, Laura, who describes herself as relatively new to activism, says that she wasn’t sure how to get going at first.
“Staffing is such a huge issue in my workplace,” she says. “It was having an impact on my day-to-day life in and out of work, so I wanted to do something about it. But I didn’t know where to start.
“Since then a lot has changed. Our branch has been out and about with placards, chanting on Westminster bridge and handing out flyers asking people to sign the RCN’s safe staffing petition. We’ve also been using social media to highlight the issue and we’ve been talking to as many people as possible. We’ve realised there is so much we can do.
“One of the key benefits of this resource pack is that it offers reps a starting point – not just in campaigning for safe staffing but on any other issues in their workplace too.”
Julie points out that although the resource is for reps, it also has wider appeal.
“As a rep, campaigning is a key part of your role and it’s so important that you’re out there trying to engage members on important issues,” she says. “This resource will help reps tap into key ideas but it’s also useful for other members, who aren’t in a rep role but want to get involved in campaigning.”
Laura adds: “So many members feel powerless. They want to speak up about issues but they think they might get in trouble. This resource allows members to take some power back. It gives them guidance on what they’re allowed to do and how they can campaign for change.
“Don’t be scared to get involved and remember, no action is too small.”
This allows members to take some power back. It gives them guidance on what they're allowed to do and how they can campaign for change
The power of campaigning
Julie, who is also Vice Chair of the RCN Scotland Board, was heavily involved in RCN’s Scotland’s Ask For More campaign and saw first-hand how campaigning can result in real change for nursing staff.
As a result of the campaign, members successfully lobbied the Scottish parliament to make sure the country’s new safe staffing legislation included what members wanted to see. The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act became law in May 2019, after a similar law was introduced in Wales in 2016.
Julie says: “After months of campaigning and garnering public support, we went to the Scottish parliament on the day the new law was passed, and it was fantastic to be a part of it. I never thought for a moment that getting into nursing would lead to me doing something like that.”
I think members don’t always realise how much influence they can have
Julie says: “I think the Ask for More campaign was a true example of how well members, reps and RCN staff can work together to make things happen. Everyone showed such commitment and passion to get the changes we wanted made.
“It was amazing to see the influence the RCN had in that and I think members don’t always realise how much influence they can have.”
Julie adds: “You have to know what you’re fighting for, be able to answer questions about it, and have the passion and drive to make things happen. If you’ve got that, then this resource can help you bring your campaign to life.”
More information
Reps can access the full resource pack by logging into the RCN reps hub.
Visit our publications pages to download the resource booklet.
Words by Zara Davies. Pictures in London by Gareth Harmer
The fight for safe staffing
The RCN is campaigning for staffing for safe and effective care to be enshrined in law across all health care settings in each UK country. To find out what's happening in your country or region, and how you can get involved, visit our safe staffing pages.
Laura and her fellow branch members have been asking colleagues, family members, friends and the public to sign our petition calling on the government to fix the nursing workforce crisis in England.
Members in England can also sign up to become an e-campaigner. You'll receive a monthly email with a quick and easy online action you can take to help us make sure we have safe staffing levels in England. Become an e-campaigner.
