Irish Wedding News
21/04/2015
The strike action will take place on Thursday 30 April, with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) intending to stop work for a four-hour period.
It is the first time in its 134-year history that members of the RCM in Northern Ireland have voted in favour of industrial action. The action is being taken over an ongoing dispute over pay. Midwives in Northern Ireland are calling for a 1% pay rise which has been given to their colleagues in other regions of the UK.
The four-hour stoppage at the end of this month, will be followed by further action starting on Friday 1 May to Thursday 7 May. This will consist of RCM members only working overtime if it is agreed they will be paid for it, and taking all the breaks they are entitled to.
Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: "We took industrial action in England, and through that action won a victory for our members. We also negotiated a deal with the Welsh government. There is still time for the Northern Ireland Executive to come to the negotiating table to seek a solution. We are seeking urgent talks with the health minister.
"This result from our ballot is an unambiguous 'yes': It could not send a clearer signal to those in power about the level of dissatisfaction among our members on this issue. Our members have suffered four years of pay restraint and many now face the prospect another year."
She added that while members will be on strike, the RCM will meet with employers to ensure that mothers and babies are not put at any risk during this time.
"I want to reassure women expecting a baby that midwives will continue to look after them and that they will be safe," she said.
Breedagh Hughes, RCM director for Northern Ireland, commented: "Our members provide a 24/7 service to mothers and babies all year round. They very often work additional hours – frequently unpaid – to ensure care is of the highest level.
"Employers have taken this dedication and commitment and thrown it back in their faces. Our members are now unsurprisingly disillusioned and are fed up with being taken for granted by employers. The level of turn-out and their response testifies to this."
Almost 90% of RCM members said they are prepared to strike. While 89.7% said they are prepared to take part in a strike, 96.5% said they are prepared to take part in action short of a strike.
The turnout of those eligible to vote was 49.9%, according to the RCM.
(JP)
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NI Midwives To Go On Strike This Month
Midwives in Northern Ireland are have voted to go on strike.The strike action will take place on Thursday 30 April, with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) intending to stop work for a four-hour period.
It is the first time in its 134-year history that members of the RCM in Northern Ireland have voted in favour of industrial action. The action is being taken over an ongoing dispute over pay. Midwives in Northern Ireland are calling for a 1% pay rise which has been given to their colleagues in other regions of the UK.
The four-hour stoppage at the end of this month, will be followed by further action starting on Friday 1 May to Thursday 7 May. This will consist of RCM members only working overtime if it is agreed they will be paid for it, and taking all the breaks they are entitled to.
Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: "We took industrial action in England, and through that action won a victory for our members. We also negotiated a deal with the Welsh government. There is still time for the Northern Ireland Executive to come to the negotiating table to seek a solution. We are seeking urgent talks with the health minister.
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"This result from our ballot is an unambiguous 'yes': It could not send a clearer signal to those in power about the level of dissatisfaction among our members on this issue. Our members have suffered four years of pay restraint and many now face the prospect another year."
She added that while members will be on strike, the RCM will meet with employers to ensure that mothers and babies are not put at any risk during this time.
"I want to reassure women expecting a baby that midwives will continue to look after them and that they will be safe," she said.
Breedagh Hughes, RCM director for Northern Ireland, commented: "Our members provide a 24/7 service to mothers and babies all year round. They very often work additional hours – frequently unpaid – to ensure care is of the highest level.
"Employers have taken this dedication and commitment and thrown it back in their faces. Our members are now unsurprisingly disillusioned and are fed up with being taken for granted by employers. The level of turn-out and their response testifies to this."
Almost 90% of RCM members said they are prepared to strike. While 89.7% said they are prepared to take part in a strike, 96.5% said they are prepared to take part in action short of a strike.
The turnout of those eligible to vote was 49.9%, according to the RCM.
(JP)
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