The news comes after a meeting of the RCM board where the decision was taken.
It has confirmed that consultation with members will not take place until the Heads of Agreement is finalised.
Cathy Warwick, RCM chief executive, stressed that the RCM will continue to campaign on the issue of working longer.
In a survey of RCM members taken last year, 91% of respondents disagreed that they should be forced to work until they are 68.
The RCM has strong concerns that, as they near 70, midwives will not be able to meet the physical and mental demands, and may not be able to provide the care that women expect and deserve.
Cathy said: ‘The government has not explained why it has chosen to protect the uniformed services (the police, the fire service and the armed forces) and allow them to retire earlier, but they will not give this protection to NHS workers.
‘We do not believe that NHS workers should be treated differently from other emergency workers and we believe that the vast majority of the public would agree that midwives and other NHS workers should not be forced to work until they are nearly seventy, given the nature of work that they do.’
As part of the proposals the government has agreed to set up a tripartite review to look into the impacts of working longer.
The RCM will use this opportunity to campaign for midwives and other NHS workers, since they provide a 24-hour emergency service, have a physically demanding job and make life and death decisions.
Cathy added: ‘The RCM will consult with members as soon as the final details of the proposals have been completed.
‘However, we urge the government to reconsider its position on retirement age, as this is not consistent with how they have treated emergency workers and we do not believe that it is fair to NHS workers or the public that need and depend on the NHS.’
