NHS: escalate and unite after 6-7 February

The next NHS strikes are on 6-7 February, when members of the RCN from acute, specialist and ambulance trusts across England and Wales will come out. This will be the biggest action in the health dispute so far.

GMB ambulance members will be striking along RCN members on the 6th. The physiotherapy union, CSP, will strike on 7 and 9 February, and Unison ambulance workers again on 10 February.

We need to ensure the picket lines in this next round of action are full of talk about a strategy that can win. That means escalating strikes and co-ordination between the unions. The leaderships of all the health unions show no inclination for this. Strikers pushing forward their voices and gaining some level of control of the dispute is important in itself, and key to success of the strikes.

In the first strikes there may have been some benefit to rallying activists with separate strike days. For example, there are reports of physios being very pleased that they raised their profile by leading a strike of their own. However, the case for co-ordinated action is clear and seems to be widely supported on picket lines. Many members are asking: why isn’t there one big health union?

The GMB (a smaller health union) has co-ordinated its strike dates with other unions and there are rumours that Unison is also considering this (it may explained postponing action on 22 February). Going forward, the unions must co-ordinate strikes on the same days, making it clear this is a cross-union, cross-NHS fight.

Alongside co-ordination we need escalation. The RCN needs to name more sustained dates for action, after the 6th and 7th. Unison needs to confirm dates to replace the 22nd.

In all the unions, but especially the RCN, work needs to be put into building up the strike fund for escalation and in increasing organising amongst members to lead the action. Currently the RCN executive is insisting on strike committees and picket lines being under strict supervision and control of RCN staff. We trust nursing staff to look after our dying relatives. It speaks very poorly of the union if it doesn’t trust its members to lead their own dispute.

The issue is coming to a head within the RCN, with a significant number of union staff raising complaints internally that they’re being burned out. Complaints of union bureaucrats to one side, the fact of the matter is that strike committees, picket lines, recruitment and the organisation of the action between strikes can all be better handled by members present in workplaces. If this strike is going to grow and have the industrial and political impact needed to win, rather than roll from strike day to strike day, the union needs to facilitate that activity, instead of keeping it in check.