Midwives not striking

[Lj8893]

So even though over 80% of midwives voted for industrial action, because less than 50% RCM members actually voted they can’t strike. (In England).

So many midwives didn’t receive their ballot papers, it’s such a shame.

It's awful and I'm scared it will go the same way with teachers. It doesn't get much press, the fact that the Tories already tightened the rules on strikes.

From a purely selfish perspective at 34 weeks pregnant, I'm glad. But it shouldn't come to this.

It would be ironic if it was the RM strike that stopped midwives receiving their ballot papers.

It absolutely shouldn’t come to having to even think about striking.
I was very conflicted about my vote for reasons like you said @roarfeckingroarr. I don’t want any lady to be put in a difficult place, but the sad reality is that all we can give at the moment is very basic care.

I can't imagine being a midwife and striking. Sorry. I hope you get what you need.

It doesn’t sit right with me either but something has to happen to make a change. We are literally haemorrhaging midwives at the moment.

I'm so sorry. You need more money and better conditions.
We need a change of government.
But women giving birth may literally be haemorrhaging. It's not their fault.

According to fb the issue is a lot of midwives either didn't get any ballot papers or didn't get them in time.

I agree it’s not their fault. Exactly why I have said industrial action didn’t sit right with me, but seemed our only option.

we can barely give safe care as it is right now. There just isn’t enough of us.

Yes I think that was the problem.

@dancingqueen123 I couldn't disagree more. The staffing crisis is forcing care into very scary territory. The care I am providing at the moment is poor at best, unsafe at worst. There's nothing I can do about it, it's out of my control. Midwives are putting their pins at risk every shift they work. There isn't enough midwives.

Something needs to happen. It's not about pay for me, it's about the safety of women and babies.

I'm glad I'm not pregnant at the moment, that's all I'll say.

Yes, so many colleagues didn't receive their ballot papers in time. What a ridiculous situation. I'm so angry on behalf of us and our women. They deserve so much better.

Of course it's not their fault but in another couple of years there will be less midwives and even worse standards of care.
Midwives deserve a pay rise and better working conditions to attract more people into the profession.
I'm hearing of midwives who cannot leave their shift after 12.5hours as there is no incoming shift to handover to.
It's at crisis point -we are just hearing about Mother and baby deaths from 7/8 years ago .
God only knows what will happen

Exactly my point.
It’s not about the money for me (although it’s not great). It’s actually about the women.

@dancingqueen123 and in 6 / 7 years time with no change and all the old midwives have resigned and everyone is more burnt out and they've all left.
Who's going to help the haemorrhaging women then?

We need change today.

I’ve never had a job where I was part of a union so I’m not sure how this works - how do you actually get the ballot paper? Can it not be sent electronically? Or was it and that failed?

It’s all postal.

Oh blimey, so postal strikes affecting the distribution? The irony. Surely there’s a better way, it’s 2022 🤷‍♀️

Or is it governed by legislation and it can’t be electronic?

What would happen to women if midwives were on strike? You can cancel operations etc but can't exactly halt labour. It's often the scariest time of a woman's life.

Are parents able to give gifts to midwives? Outside of a card and biscuits. Like a cash bonus after delivery?

The last strike it was routine clinic appts that got cancelled. Labour/inpatient care wasn’t affected.

Cash gifts cannot be accepted. Generally gifts less than £50 value is fine.

Industrial action would mean labour care wouldn’t be effected, although could mean some “luxuries” may not be available such as homebirth, birth centres etc.
Or it could be just midwives not doing any extra work, no overtime (especially unpaid), ensuring they take their breaks, leaving work on time etc etc. which would be extremely hard to do!!
I can’t remember the last time i had a break!

I'm in Wales (and we voted to strike - something like 91% - I never thought it would come to this, but the profession is in crisis - and it's not about the money, it's about safe care)

If it does come to a strike we have already said it will be operated on a christmas day basis - so essential work will still be done on minimal staffing (and those who were rostered to be on call would still be asked to work to ensure families are safe)

Birth centre surely isn't a "luxury"? So no midwife unit, just labour ward?

Sorry OP. I hope you guys get what you need without going on strike, I truly do.