Midwives in Downpatrick’s Downe Hospital joined their 12,000 colleagues across Northern Ireland in a four hour strike to protest against not being awarded a 1% pay rise that was promised to them and that has been paid to midwives across the rest of the UK.
Tempers were high on the picket line and midwives were baffled why they had been awarded a rise that was soon removed.
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Downpatrick midwives on the picket line at the Downe Hospital.[/caption]
Local RCN representative Briege Halleran said: “We are strinking from 8am to 12 noon because we have been ignored in this national pay deal. We took a vote on a Northern Ireland-wide ballot among our members and the majority voted to strike.
“All regions across the UK have received this award except us. Politicians at Stormont seem to have completely forgotten about us. We just don’t know how they can do this.”
Royal College of Midwives Chief Speaks Out Over Pay Snub
Breedagh Hughes, Director of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “There are around 25,000 births in Northern Ireland a year and there are 1200 midwives, only two of who are men, and 70% work part-time.
“Almost half of the midwifery workforce is over fifty years of age is is being poorly rewarded in their jobs and may take retirement as an attractive option. We cannot afford to lose this body of expertise. The independent pay review body which makes recommendations to the UK government about health service pay recommended a pay rise to all health care workers including midwives for the year2014-15.
“Eleven months into the financial year, after a pay deal had been negotiated in the other UK countries, the DHSSPS gave those midwives at the top of their pay scale a 1% non-consolidated pay rise and then promptly removed it on 1 April this year. Those midwives who are still progressing through the pay scale as they become more experienced got nothing.
“Midwives currently contribute an average of three hours unpaid labour to the HSC each week. By the time the midwife has donated 13 hours labour that is the equivalent of a 1% pay rise.
“The DHSS has intimated there is no money for a pay rise of any sort for the year 2015-16. This was the last straw for the Royal College of Midwives members and is reflected in the strength of feeling evident in the ballot result.”
DHSS Disputes Its Position Over Midwife Wages
A DHSSPS spokesperson said: “The Department respects the right of Trade Union members to take part in industrial action but is disappointed that this further industrial action is being taken.
“The Minister remains committed to putting patients first and departmental officials will work with the HSCB and Trusts to ensure a safe service is provided during planned stoppages.
“In Northern Ireland despite our offers to negotiate, local trade unions had not been prepared to talk to us about options for a 2015/16 pay deal, dissatisfied with what their English colleagues accepted in 2014/15.
“The Department wrote in early January and February inviting unions to begin discussions, sought to engage with unions at the start of March, and last week issued a further invitation to seek to commence pay discussions as soon as trade union availability permits.
“The Department welcomes the Trade Unions’ more positive response to this latest invitation to engage.
“Without question our midwives in NI provide excellent care to mothers and their families. However, there is ongoing pressure within our health and social care system and there is a very difficult financial year ahead with hard decisions about the provision of health and social care services.
“While we would like to be in a position to have done more in 2014-15, it is important to recognise midwives and other non-medical staff received a minimum of 1% extra with the average rise through incremental progression being 3.7% and some staff receiving 6.7% more. This was the same settlement as in England.
“No decisions have yet been taken on pay increases for 2015-16 in Northern Ireland. Agreement has been reached in England for 2015-16 at no extra cost to the taxpayer with some staff having pay frozen and missing out on increments. The Department’s door will always be open for discussions”.
Ritchie supports Midwife strike
SDLP Westminster Candidate for South Down Margaret Ritchie has shown her support for Midwives at the Downe hospital who went on strike today for four hours. Speaking from the picket line Margaret criticized the health service for forcing hardworking staff into a position where their only option was to strike
She said: “I am here to support our midwives and to demonstrate that the public are behind them in their fight for fair wages.
“What kind of message is the Health Service sending to our over stretched and under resourced midwives by denying them this most modest of pay increases?
“It is only right and fair that they should be afforded the same hard earned raise seen by their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales.
“Their four hour strike is evidence that what matters most to midwives is the welfare of those in their care. Surely this is something that should be commended and not taken for granted.
“Now more than ever we need to demonstrate to hardworking medical professionals such as these midwives that their hard work is not only essential but also appreciated,” added Ms Ritchie.
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