Majority of NHS nurses don’t support strikes, says ex-boss of RCN union
Most NHS nurses do not support strikes, according to the former union leader behind the current spate of massacres.
Dr. Peter Carter, who ran the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) between 2007 and 2015, claimed the body’s militant strategy – which has effectively brought ailing hospitals to a standstill – has left members ‘war-weary’ and ‘confused’.
He said he was overwhelmed by reports from nurses outraged by the RCN’s escalated handling of the Bank Holiday strike.
It saw nurses leave intensive care, emergency and cancer wards for the first time in the bitter pay dispute.
Dr Carter’s comments come ahead of a major meeting between trade unions and NHS chiefs this afternoon, where one million workers could receive a 5 per cent pay rise and a one-off bonus worth up to £3,789.
The RCN is said to have left staff “war-weary” and “confused” about their strategy
At a meeting today, unions and NHS employers are expected to discuss the government’s options for pushing through a pay rise and putting a final end to this long-running dispute
The bosses of 14 unions will vote on whether to accept the offer – which the government has said is final.
Some organizations, such as the RCN, have already rejected it, leading to the unprecedented 28-hour strike that ended at 11:59 p.m. yesterday.
But other trade unions, including Unison, the GMB and representatives of midwives and physiotherapists, also voted in favour.
The overall decision is based on an electoral college system, where votes are allocated in proportion to union membership size.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said yesterday he was “cautiously optimistic” that the deal will be approved.
Ministers hope it will be a turning point in the months-long row.
Dr. Carter, who has also held senior positions in NHS trusts, explained that the RCN’s actions concern him and many members.
Initially there were no abnormalities at all.
Last-minute talks between the RCN and NHS England agreed to ‘protect life and limb services’, with nurses allowed to provide a minimal workforce in some areas.
But the action – which started at 8 p.m. on Sunday – was still unprecedented.
One hospital was still forced to transfer patients from its intensive care unit after nurses ignored their union’s request.
Dr. Carter discussed the strike the Telegraph: ‘Over the past few days I’ve had an awful lot of text messages and e-mails from a lot of nurses who were really dissatisfied with the lack of abnormalities.’
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said yesterday he was “cautiously optimistic” that the deal will be approved
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen confirmed that the union would no longer strike on May 2, but would continue with the planned action on April 30 and May 1.
RCN members protest outside the Supreme Court before it ruled their May 2 strike would be illegal
He added, “I think the members are very confused about where this is all going. I think nurses are tired of war.’
Dr. Carter said, “The members are very divided on this. If you look at the numbers, more than a third of them did not vote at all. The majority didn’t vote for strike, or didn’t vote at all.’
The RCN is going ahead with another vote to see if its members want to continue union action regardless of what happens at today’s meeting.
Speaking on a picket line in London on Monday, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “What our members are saying to the Secretary of State and Government is that we are not going away.
“We stay on our picket lines to make a voice heard for our patients.
“We will continue to lose a day’s wages by being on picket lines for our patients, so that’s how important it is to them and they want their voices heard.”
She claimed that Health Secretary Steve Barclay has “lost the public and certainly lost any respect our nursing staff had for him and this administration.”
A strike action was planned by nurses for today but was called off after a historic Supreme Court judge ruled that it was illegal.