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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Royal College of Nursing, on Wednesday, voted to embark on strike over pay, the first strike action by nurses across the United Kingdom in the union’s 106-year history.
The move came amid the cost-of-living crisis that the union said has left its members struggling to feed their families and pay their bills.
“Results of our biggest ever strike ballot showed record numbers of nursing staff are prepared to join picket lines this winter.
“This is a defining moment in our history, and our fight will continue through strike action and beyond for as long as it takes to win justice for the nursing profession and our patients.
“Anger has become action, our members are saying enough is enough,” RCN General Secretary, Pat Cullen, said.
The industrial action is expected to begin before the end of the year, with dates to be announced soon.
The RCN is calling for a pay rise of five per cent above inflation.
Recent months have witnessed a wave of industrial action in the UK.
Tens of thousands of staff in various industries including postal, legal, ports and telecommunications systems have gone on strike across the UK since the summer.
The RCN said there are currently record nursing vacancies, with 25,000 staff leaving the Nursing and Midwifery Council register last year.
Britain’s Health Minister, Steve Barclay, has described the strike action as “disappointing.”
(AFP)