Midwives and maternity support staff are the latest NHS workers in Wales to vote in favour of taking industrial action over pay. In a ballot organised by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) that closed on Monday, December 12, 95.14% voted for industrial action short of a strike based on a turnout of 55.39% of eligible members.
On the question 'Are you prepared to take industrial action consisting of a strike?' more than nine out of 10 (91.46%) voted yes. The emphatic RCM vote follows the decision by members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to walk out on December 15 and 20 after last-minute talks with the Welsh Government broke down. You can read more about that here.
Julie Richards, director for Wales at the RCM, said: "Midwives and MSWs in Wales are exhausted. The disappointing and unacceptable 4% pay offer simply reinforced their feelings of being overlooked and undervalued. Taking industrial action is always a last resort, and the decision taken by our members today shows just how desperate they are for policy makers to listen. The Welsh Government must now do so to get maternity services in Wales back on track and to stop the inevitable exodus of demoralised staff.”
Read more: Nurses' strike set to go ahead this week after late talks with Welsh Government fail
While pay is the focus of this dispute, the RCM said its members are also deeply concerned about rising demands in maternity services coupled with dwindling resources. The union claims this is having an impact on the quality of care maternity staff can deliver for women, pushing many to consider leaving.
Julie Richards added: "This vote is a sign of the growing crisis in maternity services. We outlined what is needed in our blueprint for Welsh maternity services last year. We need to see more urgent action to tackle the issues it raised and to implement the solutions it put forward. Our members have not come to this decision lightly, indeed they will have taken it with very heavy hearts.
"At our conference in Newport in October the Welsh health minister said she understood why midwives might take industrial action. I will now be writing to her to ask what she and her government are prepared to do to solve the problems at the root of this. There is still time to avoid this action and for the Welsh Government to put an improved and meaningful pay offer on the table. This must recognise the serious and growing financial challenges our members face and begin to reverse years of real terms pay cuts."
Any decision to take industrial action must be approved by the RCM's elected Board. The RCM said it will now look at the result of the ballot and consider the next steps.
NCT's chief executive Angela McConville said: "Parents-to-be in Wales will be understandably concerned that the midwives strike might impact on their care, especially if their babies are due around that time. We have been reassured by the Royal College of Midwives that the safety of women, families and babies will be safeguarded during the period of action. We'd advise anyone who is worried to speak to their midwife or local maternity unit to find out what services and support will be available on the day of the strike.
"The turnout and results of the RCM ballots clearly show that maternity services across the UK are overstretched, understaffed and many midwives are struggling financially. These pressures have taken their toll on hardworking and compassionate individuals and as a result thousands are leaving the profession.
"Government must respond to this strike and work to retain and support midwives, so they in turn can provide quality care for parents."
The RCM has also balloted its Scotland members who voted yes to industrial action. Following a third and improved pay offer from the Scottish Government, RCM members are being consulted on whether to accept or reject it. This closes on December 15.
It was announced last week that the 4% pay award is now being implemented in Northern Ireland. RCM members there were consulted on pay last month. Nearly 90% said they would be prepared to take industrial action if the pay award was implemented.
READ NEXT:
- 'I almost died in a crash then met my partner in hospital'
Nurses in Wales vote to go on strike for the first time in history
'I've been waiting five years for a hernia operation and now I'm housebound'
'I had to move to England to get treatment for my severe eating disorder'
'I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 28 just months after getting married'
