Two-day nurses' strike could be illegal after ballot, say NHS bosses
NHS Employers, an organization which acts on behalf of NHS trusts, argues that the six-month period in which industrial action can be taken in England expires during the strike< /p>
The planned walkout is from 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2 (
Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)
A 48-hour nurses' strike at the end of the month could be challenged in the High Court, with NHS bosses claiming it is illegal.
The Royal College of Nurses refutes a legal argument that its ballot does not give it a mandate to organize the planned walkout from 8 p.m. on Sunday April 30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday May 2.
NHS Employers, an organization which acts on behalf of NHS trusts, argues that the six-month period in which industrial action can be taken in England expires at midnight on May 1.
The MRC says a previous legal action regarding a miners' strike in 1995 set a precedent which means the strike is legal until midnight on May 2.
The chief executive of NHS Employers, Danny Mortimer, wrote to Health Secretary Steve Barclay today asking the government to challenge the legality of the strike through a judicial review.
Picture:
PENNSYLVANIA)Pat Cullen, General Secretary of the RCN, said: 'Intimidating nurses and dragging us to the highest courts would not be a good idea for the government.
"It would be a total disregard for the medical staff. We will defend the legality of our action in all forums."
This could see the bitter labor dispute go to the High Court which could now decide whether the two-day strike - this time without exempted services - can go ahead.
The latest RCN comes after union members voted to reject a 5% pay rise offer from the government.
The chief executive of NHS Employers, Danny Mortimer, said: "In recent days, NHS Employers have asked the RCN to review the strike action it has planned for 30 April to 2 May 2023.
NHS Employers, an organization which acts on behalf of NHS trusts, argues that the six-month period in which industrial action can be taken in England expires during the strike< /p>
The planned walkout is from 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2 (
Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)
A 48-hour nurses' strike at the end of the month could be challenged in the High Court, with NHS bosses claiming it is illegal.
The Royal College of Nurses refutes a legal argument that its ballot does not give it a mandate to organize the planned walkout from 8 p.m. on Sunday April 30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday May 2.
NHS Employers, an organization which acts on behalf of NHS trusts, argues that the six-month period in which industrial action can be taken in England expires at midnight on May 1.
The MRC says a previous legal action regarding a miners' strike in 1995 set a precedent which means the strike is legal until midnight on May 2.
The chief executive of NHS Employers, Danny Mortimer, wrote to Health Secretary Steve Barclay today asking the government to challenge the legality of the strike through a judicial review.
Picture:
PENNSYLVANIA)Pat Cullen, General Secretary of the RCN, said: 'Intimidating nurses and dragging us to the highest courts would not be a good idea for the government.
"It would be a total disregard for the medical staff. We will defend the legality of our action in all forums."
This could see the bitter labor dispute go to the High Court which could now decide whether the two-day strike - this time without exempted services - can go ahead.
The latest RCN comes after union members voted to reject a 5% pay rise offer from the government.
The chief executive of NHS Employers, Danny Mortimer, said: "In recent days, NHS Employers have asked the RCN to review the strike action it has planned for 30 April to 2 May 2023.
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