Time for members in Northern Ireland to have their say on pay offer

on 28 February 2024 Midwives MSWs - Maternity Support Workers RCM Pay Director For Northern Ireland Northern Ireland RCM Northern Ireland RCM Member Member consultation

‘It’s time for RCM members in Northern Ireland to have their say on pay’. That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as it launches its pay consultation.

The proposed pay offer announced earlier this week would see the restoration of pay parity with England with an uplift of 5%. In addition to this there will be a flat non-consolidated (pro rata) payment of £1505.00 for all members and a 5.2% increase for the on-call allowance rate. The RCM has confirmed that bank staff will also be included in this.

Now the RCM will consult with midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) working in the HSC in Northern Ireland.

Commenting, RCM’s Director for Northern Ireland Karen Murray said:

“Our members have waited too long for this announcement and that’s why the RCM has decided to launch an immediate consultation to enable us to move forward. It’s been a long road to get to this offer. Getting to this point would not have happened without the strength of our members taking two days of strike action, which they shouldn’t have had do, but our voices have finally been heard.”

Following the announcement the RCM Board met to scrutinise the offer in detail and, while they believe members deserve more, they’ve said “it’s the best that can be achieved and are recommending it to RCM members”.

The RCM has said its pleased that the offer will give members in Northern Ireland pay parity with the colleagues working in the NHS in England.

Karen added: “Throughout this pay dispute achieving pay parity for our members was an important part of our campaign. Midwives and MSW's in Northern Ireland for too long have been the lowest paid in the UK, so we are pleased to have secured this element.”

RCM’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Anne Wilson said: “It’s really important that we hear your views about this offer, so please take the time to complete our brief survey and make your voice heard."

During the consultation period the RCM has said it will continue to work collaboratively with other unions on the non-pay elements of this offer. The RCM’s consultation with its members launched today will run for three weeks, closing on Wednesday 20 March.

Members can access the survey here and visit the RCM’s pay hub to for more details and to keep up to date on all the latest developments.