On 21 February, the leadership of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) suspended strike action planned for 1-3 March in England, because the Tory government offered talks. These talks made no new offers on 2022-23 pay.
Charlie Kennedy, RCN nurse
Last week, in the Socialist 1215, I wrote an article outlining why myself and other nurses in the RCN were striking. This week I find myself perplexed at the RCN’s decision to pause strikes. At a time when the very core values of the NHS are on the line, why are we stopping now?
We stand at a key juncture, and the longer we halt the fight, the more we risk losing momentum. Every day standing still is a day lost for the fight for workers across the country.
Gaining a seat at the negotiating table is indeed progress, but it also potentially allows the Tory party to drag talks out and drain the power behind our movement. We must show this government that we will not stop until we get the offer we want.
We cannot let them exploit us and run the NHS into the ground. Stand with me in fighting for escalating strike action until we win!
- RCN members in Wales have rejected the paltry offer made by the Welsh Labour government.
