Statutory ballot for district nurse members in Glasgow

RCN Scotland is running a statutory ballot to ask members what action they are prepared to take in support of their dispute with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over job evaluation. The statutory ballot is a legal requirement before industrial action can be taken.

Here are some frequently asked questions with answers to help you understand what voting in the ballot means and why taking part is vital. Please remember, this applies only to members with the SPQ in district nursing, working as a district nurse at band 6 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The postal ballot opens on Monday 3 November - voting papers will be sent out by Civica, the independent third party organisatioin conducting the ballot on the RCN's behalf. Completed voting papers must be received by Civica no later than midnight on Tuesday 18 November for the vote to be counted in the ballot.

RCN members working in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as a district nurse at band 6 with the Specialist Practitioner Qualification in District Nursing are eligible to take part in this ballot.

If you joined the RCN after Monday 27 October you will not be able to take part in the statutory ballot. You will, however, be able to take part in industrial action, should members vote to take action, providing you are still a member of the RCN at the time of any action.

You are being asked to indicate if you would be willing to take industrial action short of strike action or to take strike action.

Information about the statutory ballot has been emailed to members who, according to the details on our membership database, are eligible to vote. Civica, the independent third-party organisation which is conducting the ballot on the RCN's behalf, has posted out voting papers and relevant information to members eligible to vote.  

If you have not received your voting papers in the post a few days after 3 November, it might be that the details we hold for you are not up to date. Please contact the RCN membership team on 0345 772 6100.

Industrial action is a powerful tool as you and your labour are NHS Scotland’s most valuable asset.

Action short of strike – there is no definition of action short of a strike but generally, it means working strictly to the terms of your contract of employment often referred to as ‘working to rule.’ This can include taking all your contractual breaks and/or starting/finishing your shifts strictly on time and or/refusing to undertake paid or unpaid overtime. By working to rule, you are withdrawing the goodwill that your employer often relies on to carry out its business effectively. Therefore, action short of strike action can result in a disruption to an employer’s business if carried out by most of the workforce. This may place pressure on an employer or government to reconsider its position in any industrial or trade dispute.

Strike action – involves a complete withdrawal of labour from the workplace. This could be for half a day, a day or longer depending on the dispute. Strike action will almost certainly result in a disruption to an employer’s business and place greater pressure on an employer or government to reconsider its position in any dispute.

Patient safety - the RCN is committed to ensuring any industrial action has at its core the preservation of patient safety.  Any RCN industrial action will follow the life-preserving care model.  For more information check the 'Participating in industrial action' section of the RCN Industrial Action Handbook.

Your RCN Scotland Board will consider the results and plan the next steps accordingly. If members vote in favour of industrial or strike action we will notify the employer and will have six months in which to begin action with the mandate from this vote.

Industrial action is always a last resort. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has had many opportunities to do the right thing for its district nursing teams. 

If the outcome does not indicate sufficient support from members for industrial action, RCN Scotland will consider how best to progress in other ways.