To recap for those who did miss it, RCN members working in the NHS on Agenda for Change terms and conditions are being asked to say whether the offer of a 5% pay increase for the majority of staff is acceptable (staff on band 1 and point 1 of band 2 would get 5.36% and 5.05% respectively under the offer). Members eligible to vote are also being asked about their willingness to take industrial action if a majority of eligible members vote to reject the offer.
It's now up to members eligible to take part and have their say. We want you and your fellow members to be talking about the offer, debating its pros and cons and encouraging other eligible RCN members to have their say in the ballot.
But, to be clear, collectively RCN Scotland Board, RCN Trade Union Committee and RCN Council members are recommending rejection of the pay offer.
Why did we come to this recommendation? This offer represents another pay cut in real terms of, for example, £2,200 for an experienced staff nurse (based on an inflation rate of 11.7% in May 2022). In the last decade NHS pay in Scotland has fallen on average by 8%. Given these figures and the spiralling cost of living, the case for a pay increase of 5% above-RPI-inflation pay increase is more compelling than ever.
Beyond the hard economics, so many of us are exhausted, demoralised and feeling undervalued. Nursing staff are the largest single part of the health and care workforce. For too long governments and services have relied on our goodwill to keep things going. Unprecedented staffing shortages and increasing demand for services that began long before Covid hit but have been made significantly worse by the pandemic. Now the Scottish government talks about remobilisation and has recently revised targets to help clear waiting lists and backlogs. Laudable aims – but it will largely be nursing staff who shoulder the burden of the extra work these initiatives will create. And that’s before we get to the inevitable vaccination programme this winter.
The impact of these unsustainable pressures can be found in comments given by RCN members in response to a staffing survey we carried out earlier this year.
A community nurse said:
“I personally am feeling for the first time in my six-year career as a registered nurse that I may not be able to continue – I absolutely love my job, but I’m so heartbroken by the fact that I know I can’t provide care as I would like to right now.”
Another nurse – a staff nurse in a hospital – said:
“Me and my colleagues are mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. Many are leaving the profession causing a domino effect. If these issues [unsustainable pressures] are not addressed, more and more nurses will leave the profession and patient care will continue to be compromised. The care we are expected to give has to be recognised in the pay we receive.”
Enough is enough and it is, we believe, time to send the strongest message possible to the Scottish government.
I urge those of you eligible to take part to use your vote – I hope you join me in rejecting the offer.
It's now up to members eligible to take part and have their say. We want you and your fellow members to be talking about the offer, debating its pros and cons and encouraging other eligible RCN members to have their say in the ballot.
But, to be clear, collectively RCN Scotland Board, RCN Trade Union Committee and RCN Council members are recommending rejection of the pay offer.
Why did we come to this recommendation? This offer represents another pay cut in real terms of, for example, £2,200 for an experienced staff nurse (based on an inflation rate of 11.7% in May 2022). In the last decade NHS pay in Scotland has fallen on average by 8%. Given these figures and the spiralling cost of living, the case for a pay increase of 5% above-RPI-inflation pay increase is more compelling than ever.
Beyond the hard economics, so many of us are exhausted, demoralised and feeling undervalued. Nursing staff are the largest single part of the health and care workforce. For too long governments and services have relied on our goodwill to keep things going. Unprecedented staffing shortages and increasing demand for services that began long before Covid hit but have been made significantly worse by the pandemic. Now the Scottish government talks about remobilisation and has recently revised targets to help clear waiting lists and backlogs. Laudable aims – but it will largely be nursing staff who shoulder the burden of the extra work these initiatives will create. And that’s before we get to the inevitable vaccination programme this winter.
The impact of these unsustainable pressures can be found in comments given by RCN members in response to a staffing survey we carried out earlier this year.
A community nurse said:
“I personally am feeling for the first time in my six-year career as a registered nurse that I may not be able to continue – I absolutely love my job, but I’m so heartbroken by the fact that I know I can’t provide care as I would like to right now.”
Another nurse – a staff nurse in a hospital – said:
“Me and my colleagues are mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. Many are leaving the profession causing a domino effect. If these issues [unsustainable pressures] are not addressed, more and more nurses will leave the profession and patient care will continue to be compromised. The care we are expected to give has to be recognised in the pay we receive.”
Enough is enough and it is, we believe, time to send the strongest message possible to the Scottish government.
I urge those of you eligible to take part to use your vote – I hope you join me in rejecting the offer.
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