From their perspective: Glasgow nurse shares thoughts on nurses’ strikes
After a recent union ballot, nurses all over Scotland and the UK are set to strike throughout the whole of December. After the Royal College of nursing declined the Scottish government’s offer, MSPs are set to return to the negotiating table.
One such senior nurse working in Glasgow had this to say on the nurse’s strike, how nurses are treated in today’s world and what we can expect to see over the coming month.
“I think for many years, nurses’ salaries have not increased with the rate of inflation and they have never equalled the likes of school teachers, policemen and other public sector workers.
“A newly qualified nurse, what she earns after studying three years at university and getting a degree, it’s far lower than other professions. I think this has been building for many years.”
It’s no secret that NHS workers have been feeling neglected ever since their shocking treatment by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year over 27,000 nurses and midwives quit their post due to the overwhelming pressure caused by the pandemic.
“Most nurses are exhausted, morale is very low. People are fed up, you know? High levels of stress due to working in situations where we’re short staffed cause they can’t recruit. A lot of nurses are retiring early and a lot are leaving the profession because it’s so poorly paid. They’re tired and going in other career pathways.
“I think younger nurses or nurses with families are not able to get a good work life balance. They’re working longer shifts and weekend shifts to keep up with the cost of living. They aren’t getting quality time with their families.”
“There are some nurses retraining, going to college or university, or some are retiring early to move onto the private sector”
The strikes are set to take place between the 15th and 20th of December in England and Wales but no dates have been confirmed for Scotland as of yet according to the RMC.
“I hope it won’t come to that. It won’t affect essential care like A&E but it will affect already long waiting lists and other things people are waiting for. They stopped all this during Covid and the waiting lists just kept building up.
“We’re all in the same position. The same situation is happening all over”
When asked what they would say to the ministry of health directly if given the chance, they said: “Give us a good pay deal and appreciate what we do because the NHS couldn’t survive without us”