The move has come after almost a year of failed discussions between the RCN and the States over nursing pay.
Regional Director, Lindsay Meeks, said: “We never wanted to come this far. We want to be very clear, our door is always open, and we will remain in talks with the Independent Disputes Officer and the States. We have a meeting next week which will be crucial.
“Nurses would have been far happier to have had meaningful negotiations with the employer but that has been too slow in happening. We are reaching the end of the line and our indicative ballot in October showed us that 92% of respondents would be willing to undertake industrial action. We were left with no other option other than to follow through our stringent industrial action code of conduct which is why we are where we are today.“We remain open to an improved offer from the States. Guernsey nurses do not have to go on strike, but now it looks like the only thing that will stop this is the States taking us seriously. This is about so much more than pay. It is about future proofing nursing on Guernsey, making sure that nursing is seen as an attractive and viable career option and ultimately ensuring patient safety.”
“Our next steps will be to start organising a ballot which will be managed externally to the RCN to allow for the appropriate levels of scrutiny. Members will be informed of the process in due course. We are looking very closely at our colleagues in Northern Ireland who will begin a period of industrial action next week.”
