The results show that only 30% of eligible members responded to the indicative ballot.
Nursing staff in Scotland have shown hesitancy to take stike action over an ongoing pay dispute, ballot figures released by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reveal.
During the past month, RCN members in Scotland have been asked to consider if they would be willing to take industrial action over pay.
The results show that only 30% of eligible members responded to the ballot.
Of those, a massive 90% said they would be willing to take industrial action short of strike. However, only 6 out of 10 members who responded said they would be willing to withdraw their labour in strike action.
Under UK legislation industrial action ballots must attract at least a 50% turnout of all eligible members and the majority must vote in support for the action to be lawful.
A statutory industrial action ballot would be required before any industrial action could take place.
Considering our next steps.
The union declined to release actual turnout figures following a request from NursingNotes.
The RCN says it will use the results of the indicative ballot result to consider the next steps in the ongoing trade dispute with the Scottish government and NHS employers.
Announcing the results of the ballot, Julie Lamberth Chair of the RCN Scotland Board said: “The thought of taking industrial action does not sit well with nursing staff. So the response from members to our indicative ballot demonstrates how difficult things are within the NHS.
“The Scottish government must act now to protect patient safety and ensure we can retain and recruit the nursing workforce Scotland needs.”
Graham Revie, Chair of the RCN Trade Union Committee added: “The years of being under-valued have taken their toll and the pressure of the pandemic has left many considering their future in the profession.
“The link between low pay, staff shortages and patient safety is clear. We will now be considering our next steps in our campaigns to achieve staffing for safe and effective care and fair pay for nursing.”
