Latest news with #Royal College of Nursing
The Guardian
19 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Nine out of 10 nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reject pay award
Nine out of 10 nurses have rejected their 3.6% pay award for this year and warned that they could strike later this year unless their salaries are improved. In an indicative vote among members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 91% said the 3.6% rise was not enough. The union has told ministers to 'use the summer to reach agreement on investment in the nursing workforce or face formal escalation to a dispute and an industrial action ballot'. Nurses' overwhelming rejection of their pay award is a new NHS industrial relations headache for ministers in London, Cardiff and Belfast, especially for Wes Streeting, the health secretary, who is already trying to resolve strikes by resident doctors in England seeking a 29% pay rise. The RCN said: 'In the largest consultation ever conducted by the RCN 91% said the NHS staff pay award of 3.6% was not enough to turn around a profession gripped by widespread vacancies, years of pay erosion and thwarted career progression.' Turnout was 56%, and more than 170,000 RCN members in England voted, the union said. But it did not provide exact turnout numbers or a breakdown of the voting across the three countries. 'We deliver the vast majority of care in every [NHS] service and deserve to be valued for all our skill, knowledge and experience,' said Prof Nicola Ranger, the RCN's general secretary and chief executive. 'To avoid formal escalation, the government must be true to its word and negotiate on reforms of the outdated pay structure, which traps nursing staff at the same band their entire career.' Nurses in England staged several stoppages in late 2022 and early 2023 in pursuit of better pay. Public opinion is split on the prospect of a renewed campaign of walkouts by nurses. Polling by YouGov earlier this week found slightly more would back strikes. Overall 47% said they strongly or somewhat supported nurses going on strike over pay, while 43% said they would strongly or somewhat oppose that. YouGov surveyed 4,311 adults. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was disappointed nurses in England had rejected the 3.6% award which Streeting announced in May. 'After receiving two above-inflation pay rises from this government, new full-time nurses will earn £30,000 in basic pay for the first time this year so it's disappointing that RCN members are dissatisfied with this year's pay rise', a DHSC spokesperson said. 'We hugely value the work of nurses, and through our 10-year health plan, we are rebuilding the NHS for the benefit of patients and staff, and ensuring nursing remains an attractive career choice. 'This government is clear we can't move any further on headline pay but will work with the RCN to improve their major concerns, including pay structure reform, concerns on career progression and wider working conditions.'
The Independent
19-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Nurse at centre of gender storm takes action against union
A nurse at the centre of a gender dispute has announced she is taking legal action against her trade union. Sandie Peggie was suspended from her job in 2024 after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton. Ms Peggie was later placed on special leave after a complaint of bullying and harassment by Dr Upton, but was cleared by an NHS Fife investigation earlier this week. The suspension led to an employment tribunal this year, in which Ms Peggie launched a claim against Dr Upton and NHS Fife, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation. On Saturday, the Herald reported that Ms Peggie had taken legal action against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), claiming it failed to support her after her suspension, which the union denies. 'The RCN's failure to act like a trade union ought to has contributed to Sandie Peggie's mistreatment,' Ms Peggie's lawyer Margaret Gribbon said in a statement. 'They have repeatedly failed to exercise their industrial muscle to advocate for female members distressed because they are being deprived of genuine single-sex spaces to dress and undress at work. 'Had the RCN fulfilled the conventional role of a trade union, it is less likely that Sandie would have faced the ordeal of an 18-month disciplinary process and having to raise legal proceedings against Fife Health Board.' The paper reported that Ms Peggie will be taking action for unlawful discrimination. An RCN spokesperson told the newspaper: 'We have responded to the claim, and we deny all the allegations from Ms Peggie.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurse at centre of gender storm takes action against union
A nurse at the centre of a gender dispute has announced she is taking legal action against her trade union. Sandie Peggie was suspended from her job in 2024 after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton. Ms Peggie was later placed on special leave after a complaint of bullying and harassment by Dr Upton, but was cleared by an NHS Fife investigation earlier this week. The suspension led to an employment tribunal this year, in which Ms Peggie launched a claim against Dr Upton and NHS Fife, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation. On Saturday, the Herald reported that Ms Peggie had taken legal action against the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), claiming it failed to support her after her suspension, which the union denies. 'The RCN's failure to act like a trade union ought to has contributed to Sandie Peggie's mistreatment,' Ms Peggie's lawyer Margaret Gribbon said in a statement. 'They have repeatedly failed to exercise their industrial muscle to advocate for female members distressed because they are being deprived of genuine single-sex spaces to dress and undress at work. 'Had the RCN fulfilled the conventional role of a trade union, it is less likely that Sandie would have faced the ordeal of an 18-month disciplinary process and having to raise legal proceedings against Fife Health Board.' The paper reported that Ms Peggie will be taking action for unlawful discrimination. An RCN spokesperson told the newspaper: 'We have responded to the claim, and we deny all the allegations from Ms Peggie.'
