Support the nurses and other essential workers on Saturday 19 November!
As thousands of nurses join the growing list of essential workers striking over real-terms pay cuts, Hastings Trades Council has called a protest march on Saturday 19 November to support the strikes and demand a general election. Gabriel Carlyle reports.
The demonstration will be taking place two days after the government’s much-delayed autumn fiscal statement, with supporters assembling at 12 noon by the gates to Hastings pier. Its other demands include: no cuts to the public sector, immediate action to combat climate change and an end to the racist scapegoating of asylum seekers.
A film night in solidarity with striking workers, organised by local residents, will also be taking place at 7pm on Wednesday 16 November at local pub The Pig (see below for more details).
‘Our members have had enough’
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which represents over 300,000 nurses, announced the result of its members’ ballot this afternoon.
According to research commissioned by the RCN, the salary of an experienced nurse has fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010.
Last month the RCN’s general secretary Pat Cullen told ITV:
“This exploitation of nursing staff cannot be tolerated any longer. In the pandemic, the politicians urged the public to clap for carers, but now they are wilfully ignoring nursing’s astonishing efforts and expertise.
“Ministers have stubbornly resisted the requirement to address the workforce crisis, including paying nursing fairly, instead rejecting any opportunity to act. They have taken advantage of nursing’s goodwill and steadfast determination to act in the interests of their patients.
“This exploitation of nursing staff cannot be tolerated any longer… Patients deserve better from their politicians.”
Pat Cullen, Royal College of Nursing
“Our members have had enough. Expecting nursing staff to work one day a week for free is totally unacceptable.
“Patients deserve better from their politicians. Despite nursing staff working increasingly long hours and doing all they can, safe and effective care is being undermined by the failure of governments to act.”
Years of real-terms pay cuts have already pushed huge numbers of people out of nursing. There are currently almost 47,000 nurse vacancies across England, with 40,000 nurses leaving the profession in the past year.
According to recent polling 65% of the public support nursing staff taking strike action, with even larger numbers (79%) saying that there now aren’t enough nursing staff to deliver safe patient care.
Not just nurses
Other local essential workers – including postal workers, rail workers and BT engineers – are also involved in ongoing strikes over pay and conditions.
For example, the CWU (which represents postal workers) currently has two 48-hour strikes scheduled for 24/25 November and 30 November/1 December.
And Unison is currently balloting 350,000 NHS staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including porters, nurses, paramedics and cleaners, about separate strike action.
Get involved: film night at The Pig on 16 November
From contributing to strike funds and displaying window posters, to visiting picket lines and taking part in public demonstrations, the degree of active public support for the strikes could play a crucial role in their success of failure.
An evening of short films, union talk and a friendly drink with workers on the front line of fighting the cost of living crisis is also being held at The Pig (37 White Rock, Hastings TN34 1JP) at 7pm on Wednesday 16 November.
The Facebook page for the event says: “Whether you’re a seasoned trade unionist or totally new to the world of industrial action, this is a chance to find out about the current strikes and get involved in solidarity action.”
It is being held in conjunction with Reel News, a London-based video collective that makes films to help bring about social change.
Admission is free but people are being encouraged to book tickets on Eventbrite so that the organisers can get an idea of numbers. You can find out more and book by following this link.
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