Rcn chief says nurses are being bullied into not striking | nursing times

NHS managers have been pressuring nursing staff in Wales to go to work instead of going on strike, the chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has

claimed. Pat Cullen has this evening urged nurses to “not be bullied” into working and to join their colleagues on the picket lines across Wales tomorrow. > "It will take each and 

every one of us to show the strength of > nursing" >  > Pat Cullen The calls come as RCN members in Wales are currently taking part in a two-day strike to try and pressure the

Welsh Government to reopen pay negotiations. The strike action is running from 7am to 7pm today and the same time tomorrow, while another strike is scheduled for 12-13 July. In an email to

RCN members working in the NHS in Wales, sent tonight, Ms Cullen said she had spoken to hundreds of nurses at eight different hospitals across South Wales today. She said: “The stories you

shared with me – what motivates you to keep doing this – were inspiring. “Thank you to each and every one of you striking today.” RELATED ARTICLES While the strike was strong, tomorrow’s

strike needed to be “stronger still”, Ms Cullen told members. She said: “Do not go to work. Do not be bullied. “I heard on the picket line how some managers were strong-arming staff. “Tell

the RCN and we will protect you.” Ms Cullen reiterated that the Nursing and Midwifery Council had been clear that nurses have the right to strike. She said: “Talk to all your friends and

colleagues tonight and tell them you are going to join tomorrow and encourage them to be part of this too. “Together, we will win. But it will take each and every one of us to show the

strength of nursing.” The latest round of strikes was organised after RCN members narrowly voted to reject the Welsh Government’s most recent NHS pay offer. The deal will give all Agenda for

Change staff in Wales a 5% pay increase for 2023, which increases of 8% for those on the lowest pay bands. In addition, staff will receive a one-off NHS recovery payment for 2022-23 worth

an average of 3%. When asked to comment, NHS Employers told _Nursing Times _that "no issues of undue pressure being applied to individuals have been raised with NHS Wales

Employers". The Welsh Government declined to comment. RELATED ARTICLES