RCM opens England pay consultation and recommends members accept

Midwife and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) working in the NHS in England are being consulted on the Government’s pay offer. The online consultation opens today and closes at midnight on 25 April.

The offer – put forward on 16 March – followed two weeks of intense negotiations with the Government by the RCM and other health unions. The offer is in three parts; a one off payment for 2022/23 on top of the imposed 4% award, a consolidated increase for 2023/24, and a series non-pay elements covering areas such as workforce and career development.

Dr Suzanne Tyler, Executive Director, Trade Union, at the RCM, said: “The offer is not perfect, nor everything we asked for. However, it is a substantial move forward by the Government and happened because of the determination of health unions and their members to take a stand for better care for women, better conditions for staff, and decent pay.

“The RCM Board is recommending that members in England accept the offer, not because it is gives midwives and MSWs the pay rise that they deserve but because we believe it is the best and final offer that can be achieved. It addresses the dispute for 2022/23 after months of the Government refusing to discuss pay, and goes further than the Government’s directions to the Pay Review Body for 2023/24. It is now up to our midwife and MSW members to make the final decision.”

Details of the offer can be viewed at Government and Health Unions agree pay deal paving way for an end to strike action – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).