In pay dispute, British nurses vote to hold first-ever national strike

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) – In a pay dispute, Britain’s Royal College of Nursing (RCN) voted on Wednesday to hold its first national strike in its 106-year history.

The strike will involve nurses in many, but not all, National Healthcare Service functions across the UK. The RCN has over 300,000 members.

RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said: “Anger has become action. Our members are saying enough is enough.”

She added: “Our members will no longer tolerate a financial knife edge at home and a raw deal at work.”

Cullen said next week’s budget was an opportunity for the British government to “signal a new direction with serious investment,” adding that the dispute is about patients as much as nurses.

“Standards are falling too low and we have strong public backing for our campaign to raise them. This winter, we are asking the public to show nursing staff you are with us,” she said.

The RCN has been seeking a pay increase of 5% above inflation.

The dates of the strikes have yet to be announced.