The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is asking nurses in England to say what they think of the government’s improved pay offer for NHS staff.
Results of the RCN’s previous ballot show that 95% of nurses who returned their ballot papers wanted the RCN to go ahead with a ballot on industrial action.
However, during the ballot process the government – previously unmoved over the issue of nursing pay – offered NHS staff in pay bands 5 to 8a an extra £38 towards professional fees, and those in bands 1 and 2 a guaranteed £400 bonus.
The RCN wants its members to feedback their views on this improved offer via a dedicated website.
The RCN council is also due to meet with NHS members, culminating in a special conference in September, when the RCN council will review member’s views, before deciding whether to accept this improved pay offer.
General Secreatary of the RCN Dr Peter Carter said: “The revised offer is not all that we asked for, but it could well be the means to resolve the current dispute and allows us to make progress on a range of workplace and professional issues.
“It is clear, however, that this is a full and final offer from the government.”
Chair of the RCN’s Membership, Representation and Diversity Committee Mike Travis said: “The ballot shows just how fed up nurses were with the original pay award.
“What we now need to do is to go back to members and gauge their response to this improved offer before Council makes its final decision whether to accept the award in September.”
