Nurses have been out on the picket lines again in Leeds in a second day of industrial action in a bid to secure higher pay from the government. Hundreds of nurses, care workers and NHS staff were outside Leeds General Infirmary in Leeds city centre, chanting for fairer pay packets and singing the occasional Christmas carol.
Up to 100,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have taken part across the country. They say that low pay is causing chronic shortages of nursing staff which is leaving other staff overworked and putting patients health at risk.
This is the second strike in December, after the initial strike on December 15, with the historical action the biggest in the RCN's history. Leeds nurses spoke to us about why they were striking today, as cheers and car horns of support were constant on a cold winter's day.
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Rhianne, a nurse in Leeds spoke of the reasons for the strike, demanding the government do better and pay fairer wages. She told LeedsLive: "I was on strike on Thursday, I am on strike again today because I need to protect my patients. Nursing has been subject to a real terms paycut of 20 percent and we are asking the government to put it back to where it should be.
"Doing that will mean that our patients are kept safe, nurses will come back to the NHS and it will help fill the 48,000 nursing vacancies. It's really affecting patient care, we have been left with no option but to come out and strike."
Across both days, there has been rallying support for the striking nurses. Cars toot their horns as they pass, people cheer the workers and different unions have come together in solidarity with the action.
Rhianne added: "Thank you all for your support, the support has been absolutely amazing, we are doing it for you." Another nurse, who has worked for the trust for almost 30 years said the current government is "evil" for its treatment of NHS staff.
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Linda, 52, said: "It's an absolute disgrace, we are not being listened to, patients will suffer due to this and that is why we have to make a stand. None of us wanted it to get this far but if this is the only way we can get those Tories to listen then this is what we will do, we won't stop until there are better conditions in place for all nurses and care workers in the country."
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