Nurses in North Wales set to strike this winter after union members backed industrial action

Nurses at the health board for North Wales have voted to take strike action amid concerns over pay levels.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed members employed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are among those who have decided to take part in the walk out.

All but one of the NHS employers in Wales backed taking industrial action.

RCN Wales confirmed that the first period of industrial action is expected to take place in December and its mandate to organise strikes runs until early May 2023, six months after members finished voting.    

RCN Wales said: “This is the first statutory ballot on industrial action across the UK in the 106-year history of the Royal College of Nursing.  

“The results for each NHS employer are analysed individually in what is known as a ‘disaggregated’ ballot.”

RCN Wales has been involved in a pay dispute with Welsh Government since October 2021 over its 3% pay award for NHS Wales nursing staff. 

Helen Whyley, director of RCN Wales, said: “Today is a historic day for the nursing profession, our patients, and the future of nursing but ultimately one born of desperation.

“The decision to strike has not been taken lightly and has passed to demand change where no other solution has been possible.

“Our members have spoken on what is an incredibly difficult decision both professionally and personally. The result of this ballot shows just how much nursing staff put the safety of their patients above all else.  

“Over the last few weeks of our campaign I have been overwhelmed by the support our members and the public have shown.  

“I have visited hospitals and workplaces throughout Wales. I have heard first hand of nurses who are struggling to pay their household bills, of the extra hours they have worked for free to subsidise the NHS, the shifts they have gone without any breaks.

“They have told me of their constant worry and despair for the safety of their patients due to short staffing.  

“There is currently no escape for staff, worry and guilt for their patients at work, worry and guilt for their families at home.

“This is not sustainable. Many have told me that they cannot continue in their beloved profession without change. 

“The message is loud and clear. Enough is enough. It is time to take decisive action against a spiralling workforce crisis that is putting patients’ lives in danger and has no regard for nursing staff wellbeing.” 

In a letter to Health Minister Eluned Morgan, RCN Wales said it was “ready and waiting” to open discussions once the Welsh Government makes a “genuine commitment” to improve the current NHS Wales pay award.  

NHS employers who met the threshold include:

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board
  
• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
  
• Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
  
• Digital Health and Care Wales
  
• Health Education and Improvement Wales
  
• Hywel Dda University Health Board 
• NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
  
• Powys Teaching Local Health Board
  
• Public Health Wales
  
• Swansea Bay University Health Board
  
• Velindre University NHS Trust
  
• Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust