AIBU to ask if you would support a strike by midwifery/nursing staff?

[HolidayArmadillo]

Just that really, would you support a strike by frontline NHS midwifery/nursing staff? Following the 1% 'pay rise' news (which is actually a pay cut in real terms and only for those who are experienced staff at the top of their band) more and more of my colleagues have been saying that if it came to it they would strike, many have been reluctant up until this point as no one wants to disrupt women/patient care but the workforce is becoming burnt out, disillusioned and unsafe.

Just wondering what the mumsnet collective has to say?

There is no fairness in any industry and what you describe is the same everywhere.

What you've just said in your last post Thumbwitch is exactly what happened to our ward.

Those hard working, dedicated staff have now moved on elsewhere.

Actually, I think the reason a lot of nurses get het up about pay and conditions is because they do care about patients. I'm not sure that anyone can truly comprehend what it's like to be responsible for the (potentially) the life or death of a patient. And be asking for help from management but get none, and potentially be disciplined for being unable to give 10 patients medication and dinner and assistance with toileting on their own all at the same time; and then complete notes which may have to stand up in court for each one of those patients. I absolutely would not strike for pay, but I do think the public need to understand what the government is doing to the NHS- it will only get worse when it's sold of in chunks to the private sector.

In fact, I think if you asked nurses if they would take a small pay cut with guaranteed increase in staff to safe levels, most would agree in principle.

These threads are stupid, sure the OP will get a lot of support based on "nurses are important therefore should be paid millions each" (un)thinking, but that's pretty dumb reasoning and why many outside the public sector are fed up with all these strike threats and have exhausted their sympathy.

Doesn't make it right though retropear, in any industry.

But we are specifically talking about the health profession.

Retropear - that may well be correct. But I was answering some of the glib/naive responses on this thread, suggesting what nurses/ MWs should do to further their cause rather than go on strike.

Actually I would strike over my working conditions, lack of staff, lack of giving a shit from management and the general politics of it all that prevent me from doing my job, than the pay.

Although how MPs deserve an 11% pay rise is beyond me. Which MP was it that said we didn't deserve a pay rise as we should all be doing our bit for the economy? Just like they are then...

There is no fairness in any industry and what you describe is the same everywhere.

Is that a serious answer? So workers are just supposed to sit back and accept it, simply because other workers have similarly poor conditions? Bollocks to that. I support the right of any workers to strike for better pay and conditions, public or private. Whatever happened to a bit of solidarity, for fuck sake.

I agree with 'work to rule'. So many nurses and HCSW do over their hours each week, to ensure smooth running if a shift that it would have the effect required.

Thing is, we wouldn't work to rule, because we care too much. We feel guilty about handling things over to the next shift because we haven't had time to do it. I worked over an hour last my shift last week, I won't get that time back or get paid for it.

Don't really want to strike but am fed up working 12 hour shifts with scarcely a toilet break, never mind a meal break. I love my job but get frustrated at never getting away on time to be with my family. Yes we should strike - if only for the fact that nurses in our Trust have to pay to park for work. and can never find a space

Janine I actually think those in the public sector have it better so sorry I won't be emotionally blackmailed into "solidarity".

We as a country can't afford pay rises,same as millions of companies who gave been awarding pay freezes for a whole lot longer.

Sorry.

And if we have got money to splash about how about a tax cut we could all enjoy.

To those who said moral had nothing to do with a pay rise, try having to work 2-3 extra shifts a week to make ends meet because your pay doesn't reflect the riding cost of living. Add in the fact that agency/bank staff don't want to cover the shifts any more because it isn't worth the money they pay, and you are stretched even further. I have never striked before due to not wanting my patients to suffer, but I have had quite enough of burning myself out for the crap I get paid when MPs prance around on £60k salaries.

As someone who is due to give birth in approx 3 weeks, I feel very uneasy about the prospect of a mw strike and would therfore not support one.

If you weren't going to give birth soon emily how would you feel?

Where was the concern in the boom ? Where was the public sector bashing then?

There were plenty of people questioning Gordon Brown's profligacy and creation of thousands of public sector non-jobs to buy votes during the boom.

I will strike if my union does, however my striking won't affect patient safety but would impact on my colleagues ( who totally support this). I haven't had a pay increase for years now being top of my pay band. It fucks me off hugely that MP's voted to keep their pensions and pay increase all the while choosing to not to maintain mine and my frontline colleagues.
I've already had my cost of living allowance removed (we live in a high cost area but not within weighted area) and the pension that I've been paying into for 20 years affected. I would have been better off in a private pension paying in over the same period with the standard requirements nowadays.
Striking isn't done at the drop of a hat, our conditions and pay have been gradually eroded. No wonder there's so many issues with patient care given the reduction in qualified nursing staff. Those of us that can stand up to losing the pay and not causing dangerous situations need to for the sake of our profession and our families.

some of us care enough about our clients TO strike - I have seen services decimated by budget cuts and hiring freezes as well as pay cuts - if no one stands up it will keep happening

a small increase in council tax will save many services from further cuts - we can afford it - council aren't allowed to

Having spent the last week in maternity and neonatal, and having seen how bloody hard all of the staff work id absolutely support a strike.
Several staff members have mentioned that they wish there were more staff and better facilities to enable them to do the job in the way they want to.
If they can't have that then they should AT LEAST get pay levels which reflect the hard work they do under poor conditions.
On a practical level, being in here, I'd be concerned about being left with skeleton staff/agency, but I totally understand the need.
Guys, you ROCK.

I think the fact that NHS staff get automatic pay increases each year until they are at the top of their pay scale will make many in the private sector less sympathetic.

I agree with a campaign to increase awareness, but I don't believe in strikes where the only victim is someone vulnerable. A pregnant person can't delay their birth until the strike is over, it isn't like a routine operation being delayed.

An increment isn't a pay rise.it's progression through pay scale,which employee is entitled to
At point of starting job employee is on a banded pay grade,and they progress through that