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Nurses are going on strike for us all
Now the ballot has been won, we must all do what we can to support industrial action when it comes — for the good of the NHS itself, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

NURSES have been pushed to breaking point by a government that has delayed two paltry pay rises, even though they risked their lives during the pandemic. Years of 0 per cent or just over 1 per cent pay rises means that the highest basic hourly rate a band five nurse receives is £14.21 an hour.

GMB recently supported Twickenham refuse drivers to secure £16.10 an hour. What this victory shows is that pay is political, and when workers get properly organised in trade unions, they can win more.

Too many nurses are leaving the NHS because of deteriorating pay and conditions, and there is now a staggering 47,000 vacancy rate that NHS trusts are struggling to fill.

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