A long overdue pay award has finally arrived for midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in Northern Ireland.
In a letter to Health and Social Care unions the Minister for Health Mike Nesbitt has confirmed that RCM members in Northern Ireland will receive a pay rise of 5.5%.
The proposed pay award is on par with what RCM members received in England and Wales and the RCM has welcomed confirmation that it will be backdated for all Agenda for Change (AFC) staff to June 2024. A memorandum of understanding also confirms that full parity will be maintained and that the remaining two months 1 April to 31 May will be paid at a later date.
The RCM says having campaigned for an above inflation pay rise this announcement will be a ‘relief’ for many midwives and MSWs who have been left in limbo for far too long having watched their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales receive their 2024 pay increases over the last few months.
Commenting, the RCM’s Director of Northern Ireland, Karen Murray said:
“Today has been a long time coming, particularly for our members who fear they would be forced to take to the picket lines again like we did earlier this year. It’s been a long road, and our members” frustration has been palpable. For many of our members, particularly those struggling with the cost of living, the delays have been especially hard. Improving pay for our members in Northern Ireland is a key part of our campaign work, because we know staff who are paid fairly and are valued for the work they do stay working in our maternity service. We need to retain those staff with years of experience so they can pass that down to new qualified midwives.”
The RCM has also welcomed confirmation that intermediate pay points at Bands 8a and above, which enable staff to progress after two years at the respective band will also now be implemented.
The RCM Board has met and discussed this pay award have confirmed that next steps will be a consultation with members in the new year to gauge their views on the award.
Karen added:
“We very much hope this announcement is the beginning of much needed work to improve the pay, terms and conditions for all our members in Northern Ireland. We welcome the Minster’s acknowledgement that to grow and retain our current midwifery workforce, staff need to be properly recognised for the contribution they are making to improve safety and deliver high quality maternity care to women and their families across Northern Ireland.,”
ENDS
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NOTES TO EDITORS
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.
