Members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) across Northern Ireland have indicated their willingness to once again take industrial action over significant delays to their 3.3% pay award.
The RCM says the ‘strength of feeling is clear’ with 96 percent of eligible members who responded telling the RCM that the lack of a 3.3% pay award is ‘unacceptable’ and that they would be willing to take industrial action if it was delayed any longer.
The consultative ballot which was launched on 19 October closed on 1 November 2026 and was undertaken by the RCM to gauge its members willingness to take industrial action over the delay in implementing the 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award, which has already been paid to colleagues in England and Wales.
Dr Dale Spence, RCM’s Director for Northern Ireland said: “Firstly, I want to thank all those eligible members who engaged in this consultation with us. We will always be led by our members views, and the results of this indicative ballot will enable the RCM Board to determine our next steps on this matter.
“Yet again our incredibly dedicated and committed members in Northern Ireland have been left in limbo when it comes to their pay award and it is simply not good enough. Why should they once again be left behind their colleagues in England and Wales?
“We know industrial action is the last resort, and we know that no midwife or maternity support worker joins the profession to stand on the picket lines when they want to be caring for women and their babies, but sadly this is the position we find ourselves in yet again.”
The RCM has confirmed and wishes to remind its members that the results of this consultative ballot do not authorise any form of industrial action. A separate statutory industrial action ballot would be required before any form of industrial action could take place.
Dale added: “While we recognise the financial pressures facing the Northern Ireland Executive, our members should not be the ones trying to balance the books whilst the agreed pay award has still not been implemented. Several Health Ministers have recognised that our members should have pay parity with their colleagues in England and Wales, this is non-negotiable. Yet nothing changes, except the morale of our members worsens.
“The work midwives and maternity support workers do in Northern Ireland should be valued. We will be making this clear and conveying the strength of feeling indicated by our members for taking industrial action with Health Minister Robbie Butler and we will use every opportunity to amplify our members voices until they receive what they are owed.”
The RCM Board met this week to discuss the results and decide upon next steps. The RCM will continue to update its members on progress and plans directly via email and is reminding all members in Northern Ireland to ensure their contact details are up to date so they do not miss any updates from the RCM.
