Midwives at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust are being reballoted for potential strike action after being instructed to work on call on their days off. 

Negotiations between the RCM and the Trust have been ongoing since February 2023, aimed at finding a solution to staff maternity services safely without midwives being rostered for on-call shifts on their days off. 

Three years on, the Trust insists that this is its only proposed solution. The RCM has warned the Trust that the imposed on-call system is unsafe and unsustainable, risking increased burnout and damage to the recruitment and retention of midwives. 

RCM Director of Representation and Organising Lynn Collins said: “Maternity services need safe staffing to deliver safe care, but rostering midwives to work on call on their much-needed days off is no solution. 

“It is not something our members should be forced to do and is totally unacceptable here. Rest days must be protected. Women and babies deserve services staffed by midwives who are well-rested and midwives shouldn’t have to sacrifice precious time away from work to keep services safe.” 

The ballot opened on 26 May and closes on 15 June 2026, with 113 members asked whether they would be prepared to take industrial action if the changes are imposed. 

The RCM has put forward a number of alternative proposals it believes are workable, each designed to make extra staff available during busy periods while protecting midwives’ rest days. The Trust has argued that all are unworkable and unaffordable – a position the RCM firmly rejects. 

Lynn added: “We’ve been in negotiations with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust for over three years and our members are still no closer to a solution. The law requires us to reballot every six months and last year our members made their views crystal clear. They now deserve to have their say on what happens next.” 

The RCM wishes to reassure women and families using local maternity services that any action resulting from a successful ballot would be limited to members refusing to undertake the disputed on-call arrangements. Midwives would continue to work their normal rostered hours. 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors 

• Trade union legislation requires members to be reballoted every six months before industrial action can be taken. This re-ballot follows the original ballot in June 2025: RCM ballots members on industrial action over on-call arrangements 

• To contact the RCM Media Office, call 020 7312 3456 or email media@rcm.org.uk 

• 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 a broad range of learning opportunities through events, conferences, and online resources. For more information, visit rcm.org.uk