Results of Northern Ireland member survey on pay
on 22 March 2022 RCM Midwives Northern Ireland RCM Northern Ireland Pay and Agenda For Change NHS Pay MSWs - Maternity Support Workers
Midwives and maternity support workers in Northern Ireland have told the RCM that that the recent 3% pay award they received was not good enough.
The feedback came following a survey of RCM members in Northern Ireland, with the overwhelming majority of those who responded (97%) telling the RCM they were ‘unhappy’ with the pay award they received.
In December, when Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann announced the pay award at the time the RCM said 3% was the very least its hardworking members deserved.
Commenting, RCM’s Regional Officer for Northern Ireland Mary Caddell said:
“The results from this survey of our members in Northern Ireland are unsurprising, we believe hardworking midwives and MSWs deserved more too. Thanks to all the members who had their say, your voices and opinions matter and will inform the direction of 2022/23 campaign. We will continue to shout loudly about the need for better pay and an increase that keeps up with inflation, to improve pay for all our members”.
The RCM said it will continue to apply pressure and lobby the Government to improve pay for all its members through its Deliver a Decent Deal pay campaign.
Along with 13 other NHS trade unions the RCM are campaigning together for an inflation-busting restorative pay rise that absorbs the impact of the rising cost of living in all parts of the UK.
RCM’s Director of Employment Relations, Alice Sorby said:
“Midwives and MSWs are simply exhausted and demoralised by years of pay freezes, pay stagnation, understaffing and under-investment.
“Members in Northern Ireland, just like all our RCM members across the UK, need a decent pay rise that shows they are valued and crucially one that is inflation-proof and enables members to keep up with the rising cost of living. Increasing pay along with better staffing levels and working conditions are vital to retaining staff and to recruit midwives and MSWs into the NHS.”
Throughout April and May, the RCM will also be hosting a series of virtual pay meetings across the UK, including an event for members in Northern Ireland. The RCM is encouraging members to attend as an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about getting involved in the pay campaign. The RCM will be sharing more details on the Northern Ireland online pay event via its regular member email so is urging all members to make sure their contact details and email preferences are up to date here. so, that they don’t miss out on all the latest news and updates.