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RCM urges Northern Ireland members to vote yes on positive pay offer

on 30 January 2020 Director For Northern Ireland Northern Ireland RCM Northern Ireland Pay and Agenda For Change Midwives MSWs - Maternity Support Workers

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today begun consulting with its members on a new pay deal. The RCM is urging its members in Northern Ireland to accept the deal brokered by the RCM with the new Stormont government. It finally gives HSC midwives and maternity support workers pay parity with their colleagues in England.

Karen Murray, Director for Northern Ireland at the RCM, said: “We demanded pay parity with England and, through intense negotiation, we got it. The deal on the table will improve starting pay and means midwives will get to the top of their pay band quicker. It is a positive deal and I urge our members to say yes to it.”

If members agree, pay would be backdated to 1 April 2019 and includes backpay. The agreement also includes proposals around funding to ensure safe staffing in Northern Ireland maternity services.

The consultation starts today and closes on Thursday 20 February 2020.

ENDS

To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456 or email media@rcm.org.uk.

Notes to editors

More information on the consultation is on the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/supporting/fair-pay-overdue-in-northern-ireland/.Around 90% of midwives in Northern Ireland are members of the Royal College of Midwives. There are around 1400 midwives working in the Health & Social Care Directorate. 

Midwives and maternity support workers in England, Scotland and Wales agreed a three year pay deal in 2018, which increased starting pay and pay on promotion, and enabled them to reach the full rate for the role more quickly, colleagues in Northern Ireland did not benefit from this deal.

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/.

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