On Monday 29 September, for the first time in our 133 year history, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) members voted yes to taking industrial action over pay in the NHS.
It is a decision midwives have taken with a heavy heart, but it's a necessary one. The overwhelming 'yes' vote in our ballot shows the level of frustration among our members, of which over 99% are women. It was a clear message: enough's enough.
The strike will be a protest against the rejection of a 1% uplift to NHS pay. Midwives have seen three years of pay restraint and are now facing another two. If the planned pay restraint goes ahead, in 2016 midwives’ pay will have only increased by 1% since 2010.
If a typical midwife's pay had risen in line with inflation since 2010 they would today be paid over £4000 more than they are actually getting. That much money is enough to pay three years’ worth of household energy bills, or a year and half of childcare in after school club. Midwives and maternity support workers have already lost out, and now they face another year of working out whether there is anything left to cut from their household budget.
NHS maternity services in England have been struggling for years to cope with a deep and enduring shortage of midwives. Teams have been working flat out, often staying late and working large amounts of unpaid overtime as they try their hardest to give women the best possible care they can. After years of stress, pressure and overwork, to be told that they face another year of rising bills and static pay is too much.
But of course, the safety of women and their babies will always come first with midwives. On strike day – the 13 October - some of our members will stop working for four hours between 7am and 11am, but some will continue to go to work to cover essential services. The intention is that the service provided will be similar to the service on a bank holiday. Women in labour will still receive safe, high quality care from their midwife – the only change they might notice is that their midwife may wear a sticker to show that they are supporting the action.
The RCM's representatives will be working with health trusts to ensure that contingency plans are put in place so that essential services continue. Ensuring safety for women and babies is a midwife's first priority. This action will not change that.
There will also be further industrial action between Tuesday 14 October and Friday 17 October. It is likely that any woman using maternity services during this period will be completely unaware that action is being taken, as this action will be aimed at employers. It will highlight the fact that maternity services often operate on the goodwill of midwives and Maternity Support Workers.
Midwives often work many hours of unpaid overtime and do not take breaks to ensure that woman are safe and that services continue to be delivered. They will now claim for that overtime and ask to be paid for it. They will take their well-earned breaks.
We have calculated that just 13 hours overtime is the equivalent of a 1% pay rise. Many midwives work on average at least two hours of unpaid overtime per week. Often they work many more. The goodwill that midwives give to the NHS is worth far more than the 1% pay increase. This highlights how unreasonable and short-sighted their - the employers' - position is.
All midwives are asking for is fair pay after years of pay restraint. A poll by the Royal College of Midwives showed that a majority of the public support a 1% pay increase for NHS staff and industrial action by midwives, provided arrangements are made to ensure that any pregnant woman in need of immediate care continues to receive it during any action, which they will.
I would appeal to women, especially mums, to support midwives in this action - by tweeting, by writing to your MP, and by sharing the RCM's infographics on Facebook. We are not asking for special treatment, we are just asking for fair treatment. I hope you'll support them.
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Guest post: 'Midwives deserve fair treatment - so we're striking'
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 02/10/2014 10:14
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Quivering ·
02/10/2014 12:44
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02/10/2014 13:21
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