Many RCN members have already pledged to strike, and many more are ready to support our action. But we’ve also heard that some misconceptions are causing confusion.
Let’s clear them up for you.
FALSE: ‘Only registered nurses can strike’
Any RCN member at an employer with a mandate to strike can take strike action on a day that it’s called. And it doesn’t matter if or how you voted in our ballot, you can still take part.
FALSE: ‘Going on strike means attending a picket line’
Striking simply means withdrawing your labour. While we strongly encourage you to go to the picket line at your employer, all you actually need to do to strike is: don’t go to work on strike day.
There doesn’t need to be a picket line for there to be a strike. If there is strike action at your employer and there isn’t a picket line at your workplace, there will be one elsewhere within your employer. You can visit a picket line anywhere at your employer. Check out our list of picket locations to find your nearest one.
FALSE: ‘There’s no space for me on the picket line’
There’s no legal limit on the number of people on a picket line. The codes of practice for picketing recommend having six people on a picket line. But if the picket is peaceful, you and fellow striking colleagues can gather with more than six people. Other people can also visit the picket line as strike supporters, as long as they don’t obstruct the workplace entrance.
FALSE: ‘My manager decides whether I should be derogated on strike days’
We decide which services are derogated and the numbers of derogated staff. That’s why you should always ask your manager to show you the RCN derogation response for your clinical area or service. Some services are completely derogated. Strike action undertaken by RCN members will follow the ‘life preserving care model’, so the RCN will fully derogate certain services.
In addition, your local strike committee will consider applications that employers make for additional derogations. The local RCN strike committee will tell your employer of the outcome. Remember, being derogated does not affect your right to strike, it simply means an RCN member can attend work without breaking the strike, provided the numbers working are not above those approved by the committee.These strikes are our best opportunity to demand the pay that your hard work deserves. Fair pay will allow our profession to recruit and retain more dedicated nursing staff like you. Fair pay will mean patient safety is no longer undermined.
