Nursing union rethinks strike rule

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is consulting its members over changing the union rule that dictates when it can go on strike.

The move comes after delegates at the RCN Congress in April agreed to “amend Rule 12”, which states that members “will not act in any way which is detrimental to the well being or interests of patients or clients”. Currently, the RCN Council must bear this rule in mind when considering whether to authorise industrial action.

The rule is sometimes known as the RCN’s “no strike clause”, but this is inaccurate, according to the union. It says that “Rule 12 would allow a withdrawal of labour if Council could be satisfied that there would be no harm to patients or clients”.

The rule itself replaced a more stringent anti-strike clause following an overwhelming vote at an emergency meeting in 1995.

The original motion to this year’s Congress called for Rule 12 to be abolished on the grounds that it was “ambiguous and difficult to understand”. It was also said by the mover to be too fussy and time-consuming.

However, a successful procedural motion changed the word “abolish” to “amend”, leading to the current consultation on the best way to improve it.

The union says the consultation is not on a particular change to the rule and it will only be changed if two-thirds were in favour in a ballot.

The consultation closes on 31 December 2008.