Royal College of Midwives Scotland comment on NHS Scotland pay agreement
By RCM on 25 June 2018 RCM Scotland NHS Scotland Pay and Agenda For Change
Today the Scottish Government has announced the details of an agreement on pay for NHS staff on the Agenda for Change pay scales. This includes midwives, maternity support workers, nurses and a number of other NHS professions. The Royal College of Midwives in Scotland (RCM) and the other Scottish health unions have finalised in principal a three year pay package for NHS staff with the Scottish Government. This includes midwives and maternity support workers on the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay structure.
The deal means most AFC staff will see overall pay increases of a minimum 9% cumulative over three years covering 2018-19 to 2020-21.
Other key elements of the agreement will mean increased starting salaries for all pay bands and quicker progress through each pay band. This means staff reach the top pay point of the band quicker than previously. Those at the top of their pay band will also see an increase in their basic pay.
The RCM is also pleased to see the need to improve recruitment and retention in Scotland’s NHS though a fairer pay award.
The RCM will now be consulting its members in Scotland on the agreement with the results of that consultation expected in Mid August.
The member elected RCM Board backs this pay deal and recommends that RCM members accept it.
Commenting, Emma Currer, the Royal College of Midwives Scotland Lead Negotiator, said: “This is a good deal for our midwife and maternity support worker members. It will see them getting a real increase in their pay across all the pay bands after years of pay freezes and stagnation.
“This is something the RCM and other unions have been fighting for. This is a good deal and one that we believe is the best that can be achieved in the current economic climate.
“However, we also see this as the starting point for better pay for NHS staff, not the end point. We will be opening a consultation with our members on this very soon. I would encourage members to respond to this and it is a deal that I encourage our members to accept.”
The Scottish Government media release can be read at https://news.gov.scot/news/pay-rise-for-nhs-staff.
To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email [email protected].
Note to editors
The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.