RCN members in England will strike around the clock for 48 hours in March, with no wide-ranging derogations in place and increased strike benefit payments available to striking members, the organisation has announced.
The next strikes will run without pause for 48 hours from the morning of Wednesday 1 March to the morning of Friday 3 March with every single member in England, where there is a mandate to strike, being called to withdraw their labour.
To read more on this subject, visit:
- RCN strikes in Wales cancelled
- Nurses begin two days of strike action
- RCN urges Government to begin pay negotiations
‘It is with a heavy heart that I have today asked even more nursing staff to join this dispute,’ said Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive.
‘These strikes will not just run for longer and involve more people but will leave no area of the NHS unaffected. Patients and nurses alike did not want this to happen.’
For 24-hour services, strike action will commence at the beginning of the local day shift and continue until the same time on 3 March. For services that are not 24-hour services, strike action will start at 6am on 1 March and end at the same time on 3 March.
‘By refusing to negotiate with nurses, the Prime Minister is pushing even more people into the strike. He must listen to NHS leaders and not let this go ahead,’ added Ms Cullen.
‘I will do whatever I can to ensure patient safety is protected. At first, we asked thousands to keep working during the strikes but it's clear that is only prolonging the dispute. This action must not be in vain – the Prime Minister owes them an answer.’