When hospitals’ waiting lists become longer and longer, Britain’s nurses feel almost burned out. But the biggest problem is their struggling to make ends meet.
More than 300,000 members of Royal College of Nursing(RCN) voted for the biggest strike in dispute over pay in first ever national action.
The ballot was in protest at the government’s decision in July to award most NHS staff a 5% pay rise, which would lead to frontline personnel receiving a salary increase of at least £1,400.
However, in the face of the highest inflation since the 1980s, which is currently 10.1%, nurses claims that they should get a rise of 5% plus inflation – a total of about 15% to handle soaring cost of living.
“Our members will no longer tolerate a financial knife-edge at home and a raw deal at work”, Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary&Chief Executive told The Guardian. “Anger has become action-our members are saying enough is enough.”
The RCN announced on Wednesday that nurses at many, but not all, hospitals and other places of NHS care would take industrial action before Christmas and could continue striking until next May. We asked the public how they feel about nurses’ strike.
Rachel Edmunds, 34, teacher
“I support nurses’ strike because I think they worked extremely hard and need a better pay. Strike is the only way for them to get government to listening. I’ve grown up with very good surgery, and I have two daughters and I’ve reveived incredible care during my pregnancy. I’m extremely grateful for NHS.”
Richar Jones, 64, operating theatre of a hospital
“The value of money for everyone working in the hospital, is constantly falling. And we must get enough nurses through paying huge amount of money to Bank Nurses. Hospitals are unable to recruit enough nurses now. People do not want to be a nurse anymore because you have to do your 3 years degree then you know you would be low pay with very hard work in a bad working condition.”
Rich Pike, 49, Royal Air Force
“I work in the ministry, and I’m not allowed to strike. We get pay less and don’t complain, just carrying on work. I think it’s the media that make nurses hero. I know a lot of people in NHS with quiet and easier life, a few people were very busy, not the most during Covid-19, because so many hospitals stop and less people go to hospital. So, I think overall it’s easier.”
Shaibu Enebi, 40, student
“I think nurses should compromise and consider patients’ health firstly. I know nurses are fighting for themselves, but they really need think it over. And the inflation is an global issue, not just in the UK. Besides, the political environment here is unstable, PM changes again and again. So I think it’s not the best way and the best time for nurses’ strike.”
Oweilda Bevan, 61, former tax officer
“My daughter’s friend worked as a nurse in a hospital. I know how hard their work are, especially during Covid-19. And I worked for government for 44 years, I know it’s a complicated issue. NHS really helps British people to save money, compared to US. Once they get ill, it would be a huge spending and some people even can’t afford it. In the UK, we get treatment for free. But nurses and doctors’ payoff really need to be higher valued.”