Nurse ballot: vote by post now or strikes 'hit the end of the road'
Strike action is close to hitting ‘the end of the road’ if 50% of RCN members do not get their postal votes in by 23 June
Strike action by nurses could ‘hit the end of the road’ this week because many may struggle to get postal votes in on time, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen has warned.
Voting numbers are ‘very tight’ as ballot deadline draws closer
With just days to go until the deadline for casting votes, the RCN confirmed a pivotal ballot on industrial action hangs in the balance.
RCN members in England have until 23 June to vote on whether to continue to strike over pay, conditions and patient safety having rejected the government’s 5% offer.
Under trade union laws, at least 50% of members must vote in a ballot for the result to stand – the equivalent of more than 150,000 RCN members. Trade union laws also specify the use of postal ballots, making it harder for members to ensure their vote is received on time.
The RCN told Nursing Standard numbers were ‘very tight’ which meant every vote could make the difference between reaching the threshold or not.
‘Turnout is close so it is important people get their votes in now. Votes must be received by the deadline, not posted by the deadline,’ said a spokesperson.
150,000 votes are needed to prevent strike action
The RCN is seeking an England-wide strike mandate which would be valid for six months in every NHS trust or organisation where members are employed.
RCN staff and representatives have been visiting nurses’ stations and handing out leaflets outside hospitals urging members to post their ballots in time.
During a visit to a hospital in Surrey on Monday, Ms Cullen said she believed the ballot would demonstrate support for further strikes, but there was a risk the 50% threshold may not be reached.
‘Nursing staff can still post their ballots back but unless 150,000 people get their votes sent back in the post then the strike has hit the end of the road,’ she told The Guardian.
Postal vote rule could scupper strike ballot
She criticised the unwieldy postal voting system and suggested the option to vote online would have made it easier for nurses to take part.
‘Talking to nurses today, it is clear that they are unhappy with how they’re being treated and feel the NHS is on a precipice,’ she added.
‘After nurses said they needed better from government, they can vote again on whether to take more strike action until December. There are only a couple of days left to vote by post and it is starting to look like the government’s rules on postal voting could get the better of us.’
Nurses have previously raised concerns about postal voting with some claiming ballots for a previous vote on strike action did not arrive.
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