Below, we answer some frequently asked questions about the Northern Ireland strike ballot.

The RCN in Northern Ireland is launching this ballot because staff employed on Agenda for Change contracts have not received the 3.3% pay uplift as recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body for 2026-2027. This uplift should have been implemented in April 2026. 

Colleagues employed on Agenda for Change contracts in England and Wales received this uplift in their April pay packet, thereby once again leaving staff in Northern Ireland employed on Agenda for Change contracts out of pay parity with their counterparts in England and Wales.

Whilst the Health Minister has committed to implementing the 3.3% pay uplift, the Northern Ireland Executive has failed to agree a budget, and this has prevented the Department of Health from progressing the pay uplift. This situation is unacceptable.

To be eligible to vote, you need to: 

• Be employed by a Health and Social Care employer in Northern Ireland on an Agenda for Change contract AND
• Make sure your MyRCN record shows you are employed with an Agenda for Change employer before 23:59pm on 8 November 2026
• Have become an RCN member before 23:59pm on 8 November 2026
• Have been up to date with membership payments as of 23:59pm on 8 November 2026

The ballot is asking two questions:

Are you prepared to take industrial action short of strike (work to rule)? YES or NO 

Are you prepared to take part in strike action? YES or NO

Yes, you must answer both questions by putting an X in the box next to your chosen answer.

Yes, the RCN Northern Ireland Board is recommending that members vote yes for both questions.

It is important that the Northern Ireland Executive hear clearly that RCN members will not accept being disrespected, undervalued and taken for granted.

Action short of strike means working exactly to the requirement of your contract of employment.

Some examples of action short of strike are – refusing to undertake paid or unpaid overtime, starting and finishing work at contracted times, don’t work unpaid hours, take all your contracted breaks, don’t undertake non nursing roles such as portering duties, housekeeping duties, non-clinical administrative tasks. 

More information will be available on the detail on any proposed action short of strike after the ballot has concluded.

Strike action involves the complete withdrawal of labour from the workplace.

This could be for half a day, a full day or even longer, but you will be notified in advance as will your employer.

As a postal ballot there may be some delays in your ballot reaching your home address after the vote is launched on 14 October. If you haven’t received your ballot paper please take the following steps:

1. Check your details are correct on your MyRCN record 
2. If your postal address is wrong, please update your contact details and let us know you need a replacement ballot paper here.
3. If your details are correct, but you haven’t received a ballot paper by 21 October, please let us know you need a replacement ballot paper here.

Yes, you will be able to vote.

You will be able to vote in the strike ballot if:

• your employment has started before 8 November 2026 and
• you have updated your MyRCN record to let us know where you are working, your employer, your postal address and job category.

Yes, provided you work for an agenda for change employer.

So if RCN members working for the health and social care, agenda for change employers vote for industrial action then you will be entitled to take industrial strike action if called upon to do so by the RCN.

You will be able to vote in the strike ballot if: 

• you are an RCN student member or apprentice and 
• you are directly employed by a Health and Social Care employer and 
• you are on an Agenda for Change contract.

Members working for Health and Social Care employer on Agenda for Change terms and conditions are eligible to vote. If you have received a ballot paper that is because you are recorded on the RCN membership database as working for an agenda for change employer.

Please check your contract to ensure you are employed by a Health and Social Care employer on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.

Only if you are currently directly employed by a Health and Social Care employer on Agenda for change terms and conditions. For example, some students hold nursing assistant posts with Health and Social Care employers. 

If you are not yet employed, you will still be able to vote as long as your employment starts before 8 November 2026 and if you update your MyRCN record to let us know where you are working. Please also ensure we have the correct postal address, job category, workplace and employer on your record.

Only if you are currently employed by a Health and Social Care employer on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.

Yes, providing one of your jobs is with a Health and Social Care employer on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. 

If you’re employed by more than one Health and Social Care employer on Agenda for Change terms and conditions, you will receive one ballot paper. 

To update your details and include a secondary employer, log in to MyRCN or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (select option one), or email membership@rcn.org.uk . You must include your membership number in your email, and you will be asked for it if you call.

You can find out more about RCN membership and other ways to get in touch on our membership FAQs.

There are many ways to support the campaign. You can speak to colleagues about the importance of being an RCN member, encouraging them to vote and reminding them to ensure their membership details are up-to-date. Everyone can help by talking to friends, family and colleagues about the importance of fair pay for nursing.

To update your details and include a secondary employer, log in to MyRCN or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 (select option one), or email membership@rcn.org.uk . You must include your membership number in your email, and you will be asked for it if you call.

You can find out more about RCN membership and other ways to get in touch on our membership FAQs.

Yes. It’s important that all members return their ballot paper. If you support the campaign, it's important that you vote ‘yes’.

Yes. It’s important that all members return their ballot paper. If you support the campaign, it's important that you vote ‘yes’.