Nurses advised over day of action

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has advised members not to undermine “the actions of our trade union colleagues” during the nationwide day of action on pensions later this month.

The union, which is not balloting over joining the action on 30 November, has issued updated guidance to members on how to deal with industrial action by other unions. While they are told to “attend work as normal — failure to do so is likely to be a breach of contract” — they are advised to avoid any voluntary overtime or other ways of covering the work of others involved in industrial action.

The guidance continues: “Members are encouraged, in their own time, to support the action of colleagues by attending demonstrations or signing petitions etc either on or off hospital property.”

Meanwhile, public services union UNISON has welcomed a statement by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) backing down from an earlier threat against nurses and midwives warning them against taking industrial action.

The NMC had suggested that such staff might be in breach of NMC codes of conduct if they took lawful industrial action on 30 November. After the union threatened High Court proceedings, the NMC issued a statement clarifying that nurses and midwives may take strike action without breaching the code.