RCM slams South West regional pay moves

Posted: 17 July 2012 by Helen Bird

The RCM has commented on reports of moves by a number of South West Health Trusts to introduce regional pay for midwives and other health workers, branding the attempts 'underhand' and 'shameful'.

Jon Skewes, RCM director of employment relations and development, said: 'How can it be right for highly paid senior managers in the South West to threaten their staff with the sack and to impose pay cuts?

'Midwives have already endured pay freezes and are working harder to keep up with the rising birth rate and increasing demands on maternity services.

'They are already doing more work for less pay.'
 
Mr Skewes called into question the motivation of the 'cartel' of hospital trust managers in the South West. 'We know the Chancellor is desperate to introduce regional pay and suspect he is pulling the strings to bring it in via the back door in this region,' he said.
 
'The RCM is absolutely opposed to any attempts to reduce the pay of midwives and their colleagues in the NHS. We are challenging these moves, especially as we are currently involved in a consultation on a national review of the pay agreement for midwives and other health staff.'

He added: 'For this group of trusts to engage in these underhand and retrograde tactics is shameful. It is  a betrayal of the hardworking NHS staff delivering vital front-line services.'
 
The RCM has confirmed it will hold urgent meetings with its members in the South West on this issue. The first, addressed by Jon Skewes, will be held at Heartlands in West Cornwall on Thursday (19 July).