News

29.06.17

RCN vows to press on with ‘Summer of Protest’ as vote to end pay cap fails

The RCN has expressed “bitter disappointment” at the failed result of the vote in the House of Commons to end the 1% public sector pay cap yesterday.

But after declaring that the ‘Summer of Protest’ had now officially started this week, the RCN has vowed to push on and continue to campaign for a better pay deal for its members.

In an amendment put forward by Labour to end the freeze on wages for workers in the public sector, the Conservative-DUP government blocked the motion by the slim margin of 323 votes to 309.

Amongst health groups, the policy has been incredibly unpopular, as last week 15 organisations and unions penned a joint letter to the government calling for an end to the pay cap.

The vote was also passed despite a senior Conservative source hinting yesterday that the cap would be reviewed in the next Budget, as well as health secretary Jeremy Hunt suggesting that the policy might be dropped.

 “This is a bitter disappointment for nurses and others in the public sector,” said Janet Davies, chief executive of the RCN. “At lunchtime, there were signs the government was listening to our calls, but by the evening they voted to keep the pay cap in place. Our members’ Summer of Protest will continue.”

Davies added that the union knew that a growing number on the government’s own bench agreed that the cap should be scrapped.

“We will continue to build cross-party support this summer. If the prime minister intends to address pay in an autumn Budget, she should do so without delay, said Davies. “The pay cap stands in the way of filling the 40,000 vacant nurse posts in England. When NHS and care services are short of safe staffing, patients pay a heavy price.”

It is welcome that the government has said it will listen to the Pay Review Body’s evidence but they must also act on it, she concluded: “The RCN will play its part in showing ministers how they can address the real-terms loss of earnings – worth £3,000 a year – since 2010.”

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News