Nurses put strike talks on the "back-burner"

Monday 16 March 2020

After months of wrangling over their pay, Guernsey's nurses have put any plans for industrial action on hold as they put politics aside to focus on the work at hand as coronavirus fears continue to grow.

The RCN says it wants to reassure its members and the public that no industrial action will be held whilst the Covid-19 outbreak is present.

Members of the four nursing unions represented in the island had previously voted to go on strike as the States refuse to meet their pay demands. 

Although a ballot had authorised members to undertake industrial action, the action has been on hold pending the outcome of talks with the Policy and Resources Committee which are due to be held on Wednesday. However, the developing situation with coronavirus has led the Royal College of Nursing to confirm that any industrial action will not be held whilst the outbreak is being managed on Guernsey.

Patricia Marquis, Regional Director said: “Coronavirus presents us with a public health event on a scale that we have not experienced in recent times. We recognise that it would not be helpful if we were to schedule a series of strike days when nurses are so desperately needed to look after ill patients.

“We want to reassure the public that nurses are committed to the care of the people of Guernsey and will remain in their frontline positions whilst the outbreak is managed. We call on the Policy and Resources Committee to bring a swift end to this dispute to improve the morale of nursing staff facing an unprecedented challenge and enable them to focus on the health of the island.”