Local MLA's express their support for Nurses after strike action announced

Members of the Royal College of Nursing have voted to strike following the publishing of results from their first ever strike ballot across the UK which could see local nursing staff join the protest. How the strike will be carried out and when hasn't as yet been announced.

Speaking after the decision Rita Devlin, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland said “Nurses in Northern Ireland have today spoken loudly and clearly to tell our politicians that we can no longer tolerate the unacceptable and at times unsafe conditions that nursing staff are putting up with, day in day out. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly but it is clear that our members feel they have no other choice but to take action on behalf of their patients.

Devlin added “Low pay has made it very difficult to retain nursing staff and if it is not addressed quickly, we can only expect conditions to deteriorate further. In addition, nurses in Northern Ireland are once again the lowest paid in the UK thanks to the current political situation. This is completely unfair and has only served to make our profession feel more undervalued than ever before.”

Solidarity

MLA Justin McNulty has expressed the party’s solidarity with Royal College of Nursing members taking strike action over fair pay and safe working conditions. 

Mr McNulty said “The SDLP stands fully behind nursing staff who have taken the difficult decision to commence strike action in an attempt to obtain fair pay, and safe conditions for both themselves and their patients. Three years ago our nurses went on strike and it prompted a significant political reaction, once again they are being failed by a generation of underfunding which has left our health service on the brink of collapse and put staff under unmanageable pressures. 

“Our nurses should not have to keep fighting for fair pay, they do a tremendous job in increasingly difficult circumstances and helped hold our health service together during the coronavirus pandemic, with many putting themselves directly in harm’s way. How can we tell the people expected to look after us and our loved ones that they aren’t entitled to a decent wage, leaving many struggling to get by with the increasing costs of everything from food to fuel. 

"It's incumbent on the British government to work with officials in the North to address nurses’ concerns and avert strike action.

“It’s also important to recognise this strike action is not solely about pay. For years the concerns of nurses have been ignored, due to the current pressures we are seeing more and more unsafe staffing situations in our hospitals and nurses are rightly fighting for legislative protections around the number of staff present to ensure patient safety on wards. We also need to address the lack of career progression opportunities for nurses in the North, that lag far behind those in Britain."

Fair Pay

Also speaking on the strike action MLA Liz Kimmins said nurses should have fair pay and safe conditions and has told the British Chancellor to step up and support nurses.

Ms Kimmins said “Nurses shouldn’t have been forced onto the streets to take strike action. They should have fair pay and conditions for the amazing work that they do, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.
 
“Without fair pay and safe working conditions, it becomes much tougher to retain skilled health and social workers. That needs to be addressed.
 
“Our party Health Spokesperson, Colm Gildernew will be writing to the British Chancellor telling him to get on with delivering a fair pay award for our nurses now. They shouldn’t have to wait.”