Quote Originally Posted by slack_pie View Post
Thanks for this post and for sharing some first-hand experiences.

I think it's hard for many people, including myself, to understand the issues that NHS staff have and how low morale is. But lots of people are struggling. Real-term pay cuts aren't limited to NHS staff. Real earnings are down nationwide on average 3% in the last quarter alone. Everyone is feeling the pinch.

Most of us operate in industries where if you were to demand more money by not working, you'd simply get fired. And rightly so. So if negotiations with your manager fail, you either accept it or move on to a more lucrative role. Also, many of us work in industries that are increasingly precarious with the onset of automation and AI. It's up to us to figure out what we'll do when the work disappears.

What I'm trying to say is, these are difficult times for all sorts of reasons. Most of us are suffering as well but don't have a way to 'campaign for fairer pay' other than to jump into opportunities that pay more, retrain, or, if we are self-employed, work more.
Thanks Slack, and nicely put. My intention wasn't to start any further arguments as I appreciate this is a very emotive subject for a lot of people. I didn't want people to think this strike was just about "greedy" nurses wanting a few extra quid in their pockets. We want to be able to look after patients effectively, to actually deliver safe care. Not having to worry about deciding whether to go for a piss and have something to eat vs looking after sick people and ensuring they get treatment, speaking to worried relatives about their families or staying late to make sure all the work has been done as there aren't enough staff to do so when you've gone.

Please don't be drawn in by the Tory gaslighting.