Midwives in Northern Ireland vote to take industrial action

By Rebecca Black, PA

Midwives in Northern Ireland have voted to take industrial action short of a strike.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said in a formal ballot almost 94 per cent of workers voted, in frustration over pay.

Midwives were given a 4 per cent pay increase in December, which the union has criticised as being well below the rate of inflation, then at 10 per cent.

Some 93.9 per cent voted for industrial action short of a strike, based on a turnout of 55 per cent of eligible RCM members working in the health service in the region.

Almost 90 per cent also voted to take industrial action consisting of a strike.

The vote comes amid anger across the public sector, including recent strike action by nurses, health workers and paramedics.

Karen Murray, director for Northern Ireland at the RCM, said the vote is a reflection of “growing anger and frustration at a pay award that goes nowhere near to making up for a decade and more of pay freezes and pay stagnation”.

“The current political situation has left services rudderless for far too long, with no maternity strategy and no plan to drive improvements in maternity care for women and working conditions for midwives, maternity support workers and their colleagues,” she said.

“Not only is this taking a heavy toll on our members, it’s ultimately impacting care for women.

“This pay award and the growing crisis in our maternity services will do nothing to keep midwives in our maternity service, as many say they have had enough and will simply head for the door.

‘A reflection of growing anger and frustration at pay award that goes nowhere near making up for decade & more of pay freezes & pay stagnation' says @RcmNi Director @BossGSD as @MidwivesRCM Northern Ireland members vote for industrial action, see https://t.co/70vjFhzmpP

— RCM_NI (@RcmNi) March 7, 2023

“We must see an improvement in pay for our members and we must see political action here in Northern Ireland and in Westminster to resolve the political crisis so that we can then turn to solving the maternity crisis.

“Our members are exhausted, fragile and burnt out.

“This is terrible for them and is having an impact on the care they can deliver for women, babies, and families. A solution to these issues must be found, and soon.”

Any decision to take industrial action must be approved by the RCM’s elected board.

The RCM will look at the result of the ballot and consider the next steps.