NursingNotes
  • login
  • signup
  • Latest News
  • Clinical Updates
  • Professional
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NursingNotes
No Result
View All Result

Home > News > Professional

Tensions rise as RCN members demand an ‘independent review’ of the union

The unions has been accused of "electioneering" by deciding who members "can and cannot vote for" in the presidential elections. 


25 August 2020
RCN Voice of Nursing

John Gomez / Shutterstock

There is widespread criticism that the union mishandled concerns during the presidential election campaigns.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) may be forced to hold it’s second Emergency General Meeting (EGM) in two years as tensions rise between the organisations and it’s members.



A petition calling for the meeting in order to demand wide-spread change in the union is currently circulating on social media. An EGM was last held by in 2018 after accusations the union “misrepresented” the current pay deal to its members.

The news comes amid widespread criticism that the union mishandled concerns raised during the presidential election campaigns.

Members raised concerns after a decision was made by senior union officials to eliminate two presidential candidates for using allegedly College’s social media groups to reach out to members.

The petition accuses the union of “electioneering” by deciding who members “can and cannot vote for” in the presidential elections.


It asks members to support an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) “to force the change required, to protect the integrity of our trade union, to protect the profession of nursing, and to make sure the RCN will properly represent us as we fight for better pay”.

Several demands on the College are being made by the petitioners.

The first states that “members have no confidence in the current leadership of the Royal College of Nursing and feel that our confidence can only be restored by having a full independent review of the management and governance functions within the Royal College of Nursing.”

Next, it calls for the suggested independent review to be overseen by “a representative group from Forums, Branches, Past Presidents and the Petitioners” with the findings of the review being made public at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) – which would take place during RCN Congress 2021.


Finally, the petition calls for the presidential and deputy presidential elections to be “immediately halted pending the review”.

According to the unions’ policy, only 1000 signatures are required to support the call for the emergency meeting.

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Nursing said: “The RCN represents over 450,000 nursing staff and we continue to work on the issues that matter to them – fair pay, safe staffing, and safe conditions while working in a pandemic.

“We are aware that some members are sharing petitions in relation to an extraordinary general meeting.

“We listen to all of our members and due process will be followed in terms of a response.”



Popular

Healthcare workers in PPE

NHS workers handed 71p pay rise despite cost of living crisis

19 July 2022

Pixabay

New medical Doctor apprenticeship launched to ‘diversify’ the profession

21 July 2022

Community nurse dressing a wound

Nurses call for permanent end to NHS pension abatement rules

27 July 2022

Insight

Nurse speaking to a patient in the waiting room

‘If you don’t ask for retention bonuses, you’ll never get them’

8 August 2022

Exhaused nurse sofa

‘I’m a newly qualified nurse and already contemplating leaving’

27 July 2022

Busy A&E waiting room

‘The NHS is having its worst winter ever – and the reasons run much deeper than COVID’

28 January 2022


Related Posts

RCN
News

Nursing staff reject Scotland’s NHS pay offer and look to strike action

12 August 2022
RCN Strike
Workforce

NHS nurses told to ready for strike action after ‘years of underpayment and staff shortages’

9 August 2022
NHS Scotland
Workforce

Poll suggests Scotland’s nursing staff support strike action

7 August 2022
NursingNotes

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk

Navigate Site

  • Who are we?
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Agenda for Change Pay Scales
  • NHS Pay Rise 2022

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • Clinical
  • Education
  • Health Politics
  • Opinion
  • Resources

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk