While many nurses will be heading for the picket line over the next couple of months as they head out on more strike action, there will be many bystanders at home who wish to do their part to support the cause.
The Royal College of Nursing has announced strikes will take place on January 18 and 19 with nurses from 55 different NHS trusts. It says that if the Government refuses to open formal negotiations on nurse wages, then they will call for further strike days for more trusts next month.
RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “People aren’t dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because people are dying.”
Read more: Newcastle's A&E at 'the eye of the storm' amid NHS's worst winter in memory
Cullen added: “That is how severe things are in the NHS and it is time the Prime Minister led a fight for its future. Today’s record number of unfilled nurse jobs cannot be left to get worse. Pay nursing staff fairly to turn this around and give the public the care they deserve.”
What can non-nurses do to support strike action?
Secondary action, or sympathy strikes as they are known, is unlawful and you could be dismissed from your job if you take part. Secondary action is where workers of a different profession strike in support of their fellow union members.
However, that does not mean that there is no way to support the cause. The Royal College of Nursing highlights that in order to strike, nurses must forgo a day’s wage.
The College has set up a strike fund so that striking staff whose pay is docked can receive a £50 payment. If you wish, you can make a donation to the fund to help financially support striking nurses.
Other ways to show your support include downloading and using the College’s campaign materials. These are free on their website and can be used on your social media profiles and digital correspondence, as well as in physical form by printing their posters and displaying them in your window or car.
Finally, the Royal College of Nursing has set up an open letter to Prime Minster Rishi Sunak so that supporters can tell him that they back staff in “the fight for fair pay and safe patient care”.
Read next:
