The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has launched its Fair Pay for Nursing campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses in particular have been the key health professionals on the front line, striving to save lives and playing a crucial role in controlling the pandemic.
The RCN's campaign concerns more than the response to COVID-19. It aims to secure a fully funded 12.5% pay increase for all nursing staff covered by Agenda for Change terms, as part of a 1-year deal that applies equally to all bands. It will also demonstrate how the UK Government will respond, indicating what it believes nursing colleagues across the country are worth. To face any government with a sense of determination, conviction and commitment, a strong and united union and professional body is what is needed. Right now we could be in the driving seat.
RCN president and deputy president elections were taking place recently, but the campaign has now been stopped after two of the four candidates for the position of president were disqualified. One of the disqualified candidates is the current president, who was running for re-election.
Via an email to members (and there are over 450 000 members) the RCN explained that it had received complaints about the tactics used in the campaign and the behaviour of individual candidates. Both disqualified candidates had used RCN resources in an attempt to promote their campaigns and, in so doing, are alleged to have breached RCN election rules.
The RCN seems to lurch from crisis to crisis. Once again it finds itself facing further questions about leadership; the chair and vice chair of Council have stood down. It is the role of RCN Council to provide clear vision and a strategic plan, leadership and direction. It is quite clear that there is very little of this going on at RCN headquarters.
In 2018, RCN members passed a motion of no confidence in the RCN Council at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). In 2019, members of the RCN made very clear at Congress its discontent in the aftermath of mistakes that the RCN had made in its understanding and communication associated with the 2018 NHS pay deal. This resulted in the general secretary and the RCN Council standing down. Then in February 2020 the RCN began the process of an independent review of its governance and decision-making processes. The aim of this review was to ensure that members have better oversight of organisational strategy and processes that are in place for key decisions; that members are given the opportunity to influence and shape the organisation; that they are given an assurance that there will be openness and transparency; and also to determine if structures in place are fit for purpose.
Members are now calling for another EGM, with a petition of more than 1000 signatures. Petitioners are calling for a vote of no confidence in the way the election has been run. The remaining two presidential candidates have now withdrawn from the elections of their own volition. A postal ballot was due to be held on 1 September, with winners revealed at the beginning of October 2020. This has all now been stopped.
Right now, the RCN should be promoting our profession and encouraging members and others to hold it in the highest esteem, acknowledge the work that thousands of nurses have undertaken, both pre-and post-pandemic, acclaiming their contribution, recognising and valuing the work they do and paying them the wage that they truly deserve. Instead, the RCN continues to have what seems to be internal issues, along with a lack of ability in running the world's largest union and professional body for nurses.
How this charade plays out is anyone's guess. What is known is that this bickering has brought the RCN into disrepute, at a time when we should be holding our heads high with pride.
The damage that this fiasco has done means we will be sitting in the passenger seat rather than the driving seat where we belong. This Government must be rubbing its hands with joy as they prepare to take us for yet another ride.