The RCM has opened a consultation for members in Northern Ireland on whether to take industrial action over the issue of pay.
The consultation will last for two weeks, and will finish at midday on 18 March. Respondents will be asked whether they support strike action and whether they would support action short of a strike. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, the RCM may ballot its Northern Irish members on strike action.
The RCM has recommended that members vote in favour of taking industrial action due to the pay freeze, which they call 'an unprecedented attack on NHS pay in Northern Ireland'.
The RCM has said that it has decided to consult its members due to the success of industrial action in England. The consultation will be conducted online, and a link will be emailed to members.
The organisation is also urging its members to raise awareness of their campaign by using social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
Northern Ireland is the last country in the UK to maintain the freeze on NHS pay after unions such as the RCM and Unison voted to accept the offer of a consolidated 1% pay rise for English nurses.