RCN Wales announces indicative ballot results
Thursday 2 December 2021
Royal College of Nursing Wales announces result of indicative ballot
The Royal College of Nursing Wales today (Thursday 2 December) announces the results of its indicative ballot.
Over the past month, members have been asked to vote in an indicative ballot carried out by independent scrutineer, Civica.
In Wales, 29.1% of eligible members took part in the ballot, and 90.6% of those backed action short of a strike and 55.9 % supported strike action.
The result of the indicative ballot does not formally authorise industrial action. The RCN’s elected members will use the ballot result to consider the next steps in the campaign for fair pay.
In a previous ballot, RCN members in Wales a significant majority deemed the pay award unacceptable.
RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley said: “This result shows the strength of feeling in the nursing profession. The Welsh Government cannot keep blaming Westminster for the decisions it makes on funding NHS nurses pay. Poor pay leads to unfilled nursing posts and that means patients don’t get the care they deserve. We will not give up until safe and effective nursing care is respected and protected. We will keep campaigning for ourselves, our profession, and our patients.”
RCN Wales Board Chair, Richard Jones MBE said: “Nursing staff don’t consider industrial action lightly but they must stand up for the safety of patients.We are missing 1719 registered nurse alone in the NHS in Wales. To reduce the risk to patients, the Welsh Government needs to keep nurses working in the NHS instead of shrugging their shoulders when more and more nurses leave because they feel disrespected and devalued. The public want the Welsh government to prioritise safe patient care - that's why 2487 people have signed our petition to extend safe staffing legislation.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The indicative ballot was open from 4 to 30 November 2021. RCN members working in the NHS in England and Wales on Agenda For Change (AfC) terms and conditions were asked to indicate if they would be willing to take industrial action short of strike action, if they would be willing to take strike action and if they would be willing to support colleagues in taking industrial action.
Industrial action short of strike action could include activities such as starting and finishing shifts on time, taking all allocated breaks or refusing to work overtime.
Strike action would involve withdrawal of labour from the workplace.
For more information, contact the RCN Wales Communications team on 02920680769.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies, and voluntary organisations.
The Royal College of Nursing Wales today (Thursday 2 December) announces the results of its indicative ballot.
Over the past month, members have been asked to vote in an indicative ballot carried out by independent scrutineer, Civica.
In Wales, 29.1% of eligible members took part in the ballot, and 90.6% of those backed action short of a strike and 55.9 % supported strike action.
The result of the indicative ballot does not formally authorise industrial action. The RCN’s elected members will use the ballot result to consider the next steps in the campaign for fair pay.
In a previous ballot, RCN members in Wales a significant majority deemed the pay award unacceptable.
RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley said: “This result shows the strength of feeling in the nursing profession. The Welsh Government cannot keep blaming Westminster for the decisions it makes on funding NHS nurses pay. Poor pay leads to unfilled nursing posts and that means patients don’t get the care they deserve. We will not give up until safe and effective nursing care is respected and protected. We will keep campaigning for ourselves, our profession, and our patients.”
RCN Wales Board Chair, Richard Jones MBE said: “Nursing staff don’t consider industrial action lightly but they must stand up for the safety of patients.We are missing 1719 registered nurse alone in the NHS in Wales. To reduce the risk to patients, the Welsh Government needs to keep nurses working in the NHS instead of shrugging their shoulders when more and more nurses leave because they feel disrespected and devalued. The public want the Welsh government to prioritise safe patient care - that's why 2487 people have signed our petition to extend safe staffing legislation.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The indicative ballot was open from 4 to 30 November 2021. RCN members working in the NHS in England and Wales on Agenda For Change (AfC) terms and conditions were asked to indicate if they would be willing to take industrial action short of strike action, if they would be willing to take strike action and if they would be willing to support colleagues in taking industrial action.
Industrial action short of strike action could include activities such as starting and finishing shifts on time, taking all allocated breaks or refusing to work overtime.
Strike action would involve withdrawal of labour from the workplace.
For more information, contact the RCN Wales Communications team on 02920680769.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies, and voluntary organisations.
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