In a clear and defiant message to the Welsh Government, midwife and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have voted yes to taking industrial action over pay.
In the ballot that closed yesterday over 95.14% voted for industrial action short of a strike, based on a turnout of 55.39% of eligible RCM Wales members . On the question are you prepared to take industrial action consisting of a strike, more than nine out of 10 (91.46%) voted yes.
Julie Richards, Director for Wales at the RCM, said “Midwives and MSWs in Wales are exhausted. The disappointing and unacceptable 4% pay offer simply reinforced their feelings of being overlooked and undervalued. Taking industrial action is always a last resort, and the decision taken by our members today shows just how desperate they are for policy makers to listen. The Welsh Government must now do so to get maternity services in Wales back on track and to stop the inevitable exodus of demoralised staff.”
While pay is the focus of this dispute is it is about much more than that, says the RCM. Its members are also deeply concerned about rising demands in maternity services coupled with dwindling resources. This is having an impact on the quality of care maternity staff can deliver for women pushing many to consider leaving.
Julie Richards added: “This vote is a sign of the growing crisis in maternity services. We outlined what is needed in our Blueprint for Welsh maternity services last year. We need to see more urgent action to tackle the issues it raised and to implement the solutions it put forward. Our members have not come to this decision lightly, indeed they will have taken it with very heavy hearts.
“At our conference in Newport in October the Welsh Health Minister said she understood why midwives might take industrial action. I will now be writing to her to ask what she and her Government are prepared to do to solve the problems at the root of this. There is still time to avoid this action and for the Welsh Government to put an improved and meaningful pay offer on the table. This must recognise the serious and growing financial challenges our members face and begin to reverse years of real terms pay cuts.”
Any decision to take industrial action must be approved by the RCM’s elected Board. The RCM will now look at the result of the ballot and consider the next steps.
The RCM has also balloted its Scotland members who voted yes to industrial action. Following a third and improved pay offer from the Scottish Government, RCM members are being consulted on whether to accept or reject it. This closes on 15 December.
It was announced last week that the 4% pay award is now being implemented in Northern Ireland. RCM members there were consulted on pay last month. Nearly 90% said they would be prepared to take industrial action if the pay award was implemented.
ENDS
To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email media@rcm.org.uk.
Notes to Editor
See also:
- RCM urges members in England and Wales to vote YES to industrial action as ballot date announced.
- RCM urges midwives to vote yes to industrial action as England and Wales pay ballot opens
- Invest in maternity services and support staff says RCM ahead of Welsh election
- RCM warns of midwife exodus as maternity staffing crisis grows
- RCM to consult its members on the latest Scottish Government pay offer
- Scotland’s midwives vote yes to industrial action over pay (rcm.org.uk)
- Northern Ireland Government must ‘get its act together’ on pay says RCM say
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance, and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences, and online resources. For more information visit the RCM | A professional organisation and trade union dedicated to serving the whole midwifery team.
