An emergency five-point resolution on nurses! pay was passed unanimously by N,U.P.E. at its conference at Hridlington on May 13th, The resolution included the following points: (1) overtime for all hours worked over standard working week; (2) double payment for Sunday and rest day duty; double payment with time off for bank holidays; time and a quarter for night duty; (3) higher payments for split and shift duty,
These de:mds do little more than try to bring nurses into line with gains won by other sections of the working class long ago, Nevertheless, W.U.P.E. is the first union to come out in favour of overtime for nurses, The Confederation of Health Service Employescs ‘have been thinking on these lines since the Industrial Court recently took more from the lowor and middle erade of nurses in higher food and lodging charges than it gave them in pay, but have not officially taken a position, Mr. Hill, .U.P.3, general secretary denounced the award bit said that the speed at which the union's policy would be implemented depended largaly on the nurses themsolves,
N.U.P.E. has only 35,000 nurses among its 230,000 members and is out numbered by such conservative professional bodies as the Royal College which have welcomed the recent Industrial Court award.