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Welsh midwives accept Government pay offer

on 15 May 2023 RCM Maternity Services MSWs - Maternity Support Workers Midwifery Midwives Government Pregnancy Midwifery Workforce NHS Staff NHS Wales Pay and Agenda For Change RCM Wales Welsh Government

Midwife and maternity support worker members (MSW) of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have accepted the Welsh Government’s revised pay offer made last month. The result follows an RCM member consultation which closed today.

In a turnout of 53.7% of eligible RCM members working in the NHS in Wales, over two-thirds (66.7%) voted to accept the deal, with 33.2% rejecting it.

The offer followed prolonged negotiations between health unions - including the RCM - and the Welsh Government. The deal on the table is an enhanced offer for 2022/23 which adds an extra average 3% 'recovery fee' payment on top of a 5.5% consolidated pay increase for most midwives. Added to this is an additional non-consolidated 1.5% backdated to April 2022. Payment of this will be dependent on acceptance of the offer by health unions. The 2023/24 offer is a 5% consolidated increase.

RCM Director for Wales, Julie Richards, said: “Our members stood up, raised their voices, and were prepared to act for what they believe in and what they deserve. It is their strength and conviction, and those of other union members, that brought the Government to the table and resulted in this deal. This was an offer that delivered a much-improved pay award. It will also tackle many of the other issues of concern to our members because this was not just about pay. It was also about improving the conditions that midwives, MSWs, and their colleagues work in, and most importantly, about making care better for women.

“We will be holding the Welsh Government to account on these promises on pay and other areas. I now look forward to working with them to make our maternity services the best they possibly can be, for women, and the hardworking professionals running them 24/7, every day of the year. This is not the end of a process; it is a milestone on a long road and gives us a firm base on which to now look to the future.”

The deal also includes elements from the earlier pay deal including a commitment from the Welsh Government to look at restoring pay to 2008 levels. The Welsh Government also committed to look at the pay offer if extra money for pay is given to Wales by the Westminster Government through the Barnett Formula. This was dependent on a pay settlement in England, which came earlier this month when most health unions accepted the Government’s pay offer for England. The RCM – along with other health unions - will now be looking to the Welsh Government to see what this means for the pay of NHS staff in Wales.

There are also promises from the Welsh Government to look at unsocial hours allowances and flexible working. Alongside this there are pledges to look at staffing levels to address growing shortages, more flexible working, and a commitment to discuss reducing working hours with no loss of pay.

The RCM will be meeting with other health unions later in May to discuss the outcomes of all their consultations, and to decide if collectively they accept the pay award.

ENDS 

To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email [email protected].

 

Notes to Editor 

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The Royal College of Midwives (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 | A professional organisation and trade union dedicated to serving the whole midwifery team.

 

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