Northern Ireland Pay Consultation results

By Karen Murray on 04 December 2018 Maternity Services

Thank you to those of you who voted in the RCM's consultation of midwives and maternity support workers in Northern Ireland asking whether you would be prepared to take industrial action, up to and including strike action over pay. Without your engagement in consultations and the tireless work of our Workplace Representatives who I know have been holding meetings and having conversations with you we wouldn't be able to represent you nationally as effectively as we do. Please do ensure that your details with the RCM are up to date and you are opted in to email from the RCM to ensure you receive important information from us.

The consultation is now closed, almost 95% of respondents voted in favour, indicating that they would be willing to take industrial action up to and including strike action if we are not able to negotiate a proposal to put to members. The RCM Board will consider the next steps in light of this result.

Due in no small part to pressure from the RCM and other health and social care trade unions in Northern Ireland, senior civil servants in Northern Ireland have now put forward a proposal to the trade unions, though this is yet to be subject to meaningful negotiation.

The proposals are just for one year 2018/19 and include uplift only to the top points of Bands 2 – 8C of 3%, with smaller increases to bands 8d-9, with increases for those not at the top of the band based on those in the England framework. The RCM along with other health and social care trade unions in Northern Ireland met with employers and the Department of Health last week and we have released a joint statement following that meeting. The current offer does not meet our expectations with a significant number of staff expected to receive a pay rise below the rate of inflation, you can read the full statement here. We are in the process of organising further urgent negotiating meetings with employers and the Department of Health in the next couple of weeks and will of course keep you updated with the outcome of those negotiations.

We will of course continue to communicate updates to you and you can visit the RCM website here for more information.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Mary Caddell, Regional Officer on mary.caddell@rcm.org.uk