RCN prepares moves for pensions ballot
Published: 10 November 2011
The Royal College of Nursing’s governing Council met today to discuss continuing concerns over NHS pensions. Council decided that if current pensions negotiations fail by the end of December they will meet in January to authorise a ballot for industrial action.
Council members were unanimous in their decision, and said that the RCN membership’s serious concerns over the proposals must be addressed.
Professor Kath McCourt, Chair of RCN Council, said: “Council received a report on our pensions campaign and preparations to support the 30 November Day of Action. We considered the wide range of views we have received from members and discussed the revised Government proposals at length.”
She added: “Council members represent nursing staff from all the regions and countries of the UK, and all reported that our members are very angry about the attacks on their pensions. We as nurses would not take an unprecedented step over industrial action lightly, but the feeling is such that we will now move towards a ballot of our members in the new year if negotiations fail. Council will also be supporting the Day of Action on 30 November as an important opportunity to make our voices heard.”
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN, said: “Nurses and health care assistants take their role incredibly seriously, so the fact that they have asked us to prepare for a ballot on industrial action shows something of the strength of feeling out there. NHS pensions have already been reformed, and nurses have accepted the need to pay more for their income in retirement. Nurses aren’t asking for the world, but a fair pension, as agreed in 2008, offers nurses a dignified, but not lavish provision for their retirement.
“While we are committed to working with the Government to see negotiations through, they should be in no doubt that its announcements last week have not fully addressed the concerns that nurses are expressing. Nurses are only asking for something they have worked hard for – a fair pension in retirement. When you keep asking people to work longer, pay more and still end up with less, something has to give.”
Dr Carter and Professor McCourt have emailed RCN members to tell them of today’s decision.
Further information
Read more about pensions. The RCN’s Frontline First website includes details of Day of Action events.