The RCM is encouraging members to take part in the Day of Action on 30
November, when unions will come together to voice their anger.
Midwives are expected to take part in demonstrations across the country on the day, which is being planned by the
Trade Union Congress.
However, the RCM has said it will not be balloting for industrial action.
Jon
Skewes, RCM director of employment relations, said: ‘There is no doubt
that our members across the UK are disenchanted and incensed by the
attacks by the government on their pensions, and the lack of meaningful
negotiation and progress that we are seeing from the government.
‘Midwives
and other NHS staff have already made major concessions on their
pensions, introducing arrangements to limit the cost to the taxpayer.
‘They give more back to the treasury than their
pensions take out and they face a future working for longer, for less
money and paying more for their pensions.
‘They have also produced major increases in
productivity doing much more with less, so the government’s actions are
seen as a slight on their efforts and their commitment.
‘We
will be encouraging our members to demonstrate their level of
dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in NHS pension negotiations by
supporting and taking party in the Day of Action with other unions.’
Mr
Skewes added that while the RCM is not planning to ballot its members
on industrial action, it is has commissioned an independent survey on
their views on pensions.
The results of this will be released at the RCM conference in mid-November.
He
also called on the government to ‘engage in constructive talks’ with
health unions and said it should not be assumed that midwives will not
take collective action in the future.
Talks between union leaders and ministers over
pension reforms are ongoing, but there is currently no sign of an
agreement being reached.
The Department of Health has maintained that
‘constructive’ pension reform talks will continue and the NHS pension
would remain strong even after the reforms, which would protect the
lowest-paid workers.
