01.07.14
Midwives ready to strike ‘for first time in history’ over pay
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has received an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote on potential industrial action, following the first ever consultation with its members on taking such action.
Over 94% of midwives who responded said they would consider industrial action of some kind over pay. Just under half of the RCM’s members (46.5%) responded to the consultation, called after the government rejected the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) to award all NHS staff a 1% consolidated increase and instead award 1% only to workers not on progression pay.
RCM chief executive Cathy Warwick said: “The sense of anger and frustration amongst midwives is palpable. We knew midwives were angry about the derisory offer from the government but this response from our members highlights just how unfairly they have been treated. Such an unprecedented response with such a large number willing to consider action should ring alarm bells with the Government.
“Midwives and other health workers are seeing their pay falling in real terms as their pay stagnates, pension contributions increase and the cost of living rises. The RCM is calling on this government to recognise, respect and implement the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body.
“I spend a great deal of my time with midwives and I know they will always think of the woman and her baby first. Any action we might take will not affect the safety of women and their babies. There is a solution to this and that is for the government to return to the negotiating table with the RCM and other unions and reconsider their position. This is the first time in the history of the RCM that midwives and maternity support workers have come to the conclusion that industrial action is their last resort. The RCM is willing to talk and we hope the government is too.”
The RCM will be taking the results of this consultation to an extraordinary meeting of the RCM board in the next few weeks, where it will decide whether to ballot its members formally on industrial action.
(Image: David Jones / PA)
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