The campaign aims to secure a fully-funded pay rise for all NHS staff.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has today launches its ‘Fair Pay for Nursing’ campaign, confirming rumors the unions is seeking a 12.5% pay rise for nursing staff across the UK.
Focussing initially on an immediate pay rise for nursing staff in the NHS across the UK, it aims to raise the bar, and so also benefit nursing staff working for independent employers.
Following engagement with RCN members, the ‘Fair Pay for Nursing’ campaign aims to secure a fully-funded 12.5% pay increase for all staff covered by Agenda for Change, as part of a one-year deal that applies equally to all bands.
A 12.5% rise would see the take-home pay of the majority of nurses rise by around £3,000 a year or £250 a month.
Safety-critical profession.
The RCN says a pay rise will help to recognise that nursing is a safety-critical profession and help provide safe and effective patient care for all people of the UK by addressing the staffing crisis within nursing.
A recent survey of 42,000 RCN members showed that 35% are thinking of leaving the profession this year, with more than half citing pay as a factor.
Graham Revie, Chair of the RCN’s Trade Union Committee, said: “Our pay demand reflects the knowledge, skills and responsibilities of the complex job we do. RCN members have told us they expect things to change, and we will fight for that change. The RCN is its members and together we can achieve fair pay for nursing.
“Funding our health and care system is a political choice. Nursing is the largest heath and care workforce in the UK. It has been underfunded, understaffed and undervalued. The government should make the right choice now.”
Increasing the attractiveness of the profession.
The union is thought to be standing alone as UNISON is calling for a £2,000 one-off rise.
Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, added: “The Fair Pay for Nursing campaign is about recognising the skill, experience and responsibility demonstrated every day, in every year, by nursing support workers, nursing associates, registered nurses and all members of the profession.
“This is about more than the profession’s response to COVID-19 – it is about increasing the attractiveness of the profession, to fill tens of thousands of unfilled nursing jobs and reach safe staffing levels. It is time to pay nursing staff fairly.”