What the King's Speech means for RCM members and the women they care for
By What the King's Speech means for RCM members and the women they care for on 17 July 2024 Trade Unions Government Pregnancy Midwives MSWs - Maternity Support Workers
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed elements of The King's Speech today saying it has ‘helpfully unveiled more of the new Government’s direction’. Importantly the RCM says it has signalled updates to trade union legislation that impacts RCM members,
The RCM has specifically welcomed plans to update trade union legislation, so it is fit for a modern economy and removing unnecessary restrictions on trade union activity – including the previous Government’s approach to minimum service levels which today was included in the Employment Rights Bill.
The RCM staunchly opposed the previous Government’s Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Act campaigning against its introduction in England which it described at the time as a ‘draconian and deliberate law which severely limits the ability of unions to take industrial action.’ The law specifies that when workers in certain sectors lawfully vote to strike, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply.
Commenting, RCM’s General Secretary, Gill Walton, says:
“The reference in today’s speech by the King of abolishing the Minimum Services Levels Act is certainly a positive and something the RCM has been campaigning for. Investing in our maternity services so that families can be guaranteed minimum services levels and safe staffing levels at all times the RCM believes is what the new government should also be focusing on. Of course, the devil will be in the detail and the RCM will be drilling down into that detail for our members. We will also be following closely what all this means for the 2016 Trade Union Act which the RCM campaigned against as part of the TUC. The 2016 Act among other things introduced a fifty percent turnout requirement on industrial action ballots which also effects our members in Scotland and Wales.”
The RCM says the commitment to banning exploitative zero-hour contracts, and ending ‘one sided’ flexibility, is also good news for many RCM members who are employed as bank workers. For too long the RCM says these members have seen their rates of pay subject to change with little notice and lack of access to wider Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
The RCM has also welcomed an improvement in the Government’s commitment to strengthening protections for new mothers. The new legislation will make it unlawful to dismiss a woman who has had a baby for six months after her return to work, except in specific circumstances. This is a much needed change the RCM has campaigned alongside Maternity Action for, but more must be done to protect the working rights of pregnant workers says RCM.
On this Gill added:
“Being pregnant and then caring for a new baby can be challenging enough without the worry and stress of potentially losing your job or being made redundant from your job. So, we are pleased the new government is moving in the right direction to make improvements and reinforce protections for pregnant women returning to work. The changes announced today don’t go as far as we would like to see, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.”
ENDS