An emergency meeting will be held by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in September in response member’s outrage at their pay deal miscommunication.
Last week, RCN chief executive Janet Davies was forced to issue an apology to members who would not be receiving the pay rise they were told to expect this summer – in the meantime an external review will be held.
‘The external review into the governance and process surrounding the RCN’s understanding and its communication of the 2018 NHS pay deal will be carried out by the Audit Compliance Team at Electoral Reform Services Limited,’ said chair of the RCN council, Maria Trewern.
‘They are eligible under the new trade union legislation to assure membership services.’
The ‘Extraordinary General Meeting’ (EGM) will take place in late September and once a venue is organised, members can plan to attend.
The EGM is in response to an online petition by RCN members on social media demanding a meeting to discuss this miscommunication as well as the member’s confidence in RCN leadership.
The RCN is yet to comment on the confidence aspect of the petition.
The RCN promised a 3% uplift in salaries which was not received in its entirety – instead nurses will have to wait for the next portion of their pay rise.
Ms Davies said that she was ‘angry’ and ‘dismayed’ that the miscommunication occurred.
‘In good faith, we told all members that they would receive a 3% uplift this summer. I now find that this is not the case for everyone,’ she said in the email send around to all RCN members.
‘I can assure you that I am demanding answers for you. In the meantime, I can only apologise for this unnecessary confusion and assure you that I am determined to resolve it.’