Scottish Government imposes pay award despite midwives’ rejection
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Strike action by midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) may still take place in Scotland, after the Scottish Government announced its intention to impose a pay award on health staff in Scotland.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care, Humza Yousaf, told union leaders in Scotland that the award would be imposed, after three of the nine unions representing NHS staff, including the RCM, rejected the offer.
In a consultation which closed on Monday, almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of RCM members voted against accepting the latest pay offer which - while offering welcome improvement for early career midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) - did little to improve the take-home pay of the majority of RCM members in Scotland.
Jaki Lambert, RCM Director for Scotland, said: “Let us be clear: this is an imposition, not an acceptance, of the pay award. Our members have consistently spoken loud and clear – this pay offer by the Scottish Government is simply not good enough.
“While we acknowledge that the Scottish Government has listened to some of the concerns regarding career opportunities and development, particularly for our maternity support workers and those just starting out in their midwifery career, it has failed to meet the needs of the vast majority of our members on pay.
"We appreciate the investment in the future of midwifery in Scotland, but sadly this does nothing to address the current needs of the maternity workforce.
"If the Scottish Government is as committed to NHS staff as they say they are, they need to offer a much better deal. "Warm words are great, but they won’t heat their houses or put food on the table.
“Our maternity services are continuing to face staffing challenges, and in many places it’s only the goodwill and commitment of midwives, MSWs and their colleagues preventing them from falling over.
"Those same midwives and MSWs often find themselves working 12-hour shifts with no breaks, and even beyond those long shifts, just because there’s no-one to relieve them.
"They do it because they care, and because it’s what women and families need – but such a vital service cannot and should not be run on goodwill.”
The RCM has written to the Cabinet Secretary to urge him to reopen negotiations in order to avert strike action.
In the absence of new talks, the RCM Board, which is elected by members, will discuss next steps.
GMB Scotland’s members in the NHS and Scottish Ambulance Service are also to consider industrial action following the Scottish Government’s imposition of the healthcare pay offer.
The offer is to be imposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf MSP, under the instruction of the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP despite being rejected by 66 per cant of GMB Scotland members.
They confirm that strike action in the new year is almost inevitable, but that they are open to further discussions around pay.
Commenting, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, Keir Greenaway, said: “The Scottish Government’s imposition of the NHS pay offer – despite being rejected by thousands of frontline healthcare staff – is an attack on workers and an attempt to silence the voice of those who faced the pandemic on the frontline of our health services and are now in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis.
“But our members will not be silenced.
"They have spoken loudly and clearly that the offer is not good enough.
"Our members will consider their next steps, but the Scottish Government is forcing NHS and SAS staff onto the picket lines.
“SNP politicians have patted themselves on the back by contrasting their approach to public sector pay disputes with the UK Government’s.
"But imposing this offer when thousands have rejected it shows that the SNP’s attitude towards public sector staff is no different to the Tories".
