Midwives in England have voted to accept the latest NHS salary proposal, the Royal College of Midwives has announced.
The union said 48 percent of members voted in the poll, with 57 percent voting in favor of the deal and 43 percent opposed.
The pay agreement offered to NHS workers includes a pay increase of up to 10.4% for 2023/24 on top of a lump sum in addition to the roughly 4% increase set for 2022/23.
Alice Sorby, director of industrial relations at the Royal College of Midwives, said the proposal was “not perfect” and “not everything we asked for” but it was “a step forward” thanks to “the strength of the collective alliances that came together.” “.
She added: “I hope that now we can move forward and work together to solve the problems of maternal health.
“It’s also a staffing issue, lack of investment and better working conditions for staff and better care for women, because one doesn’t work without the other.
“Last week, the government said pressure on maternity protection was unsustainable. The midwives and (midwives) who rightfully should be getting this salary offer have known this for a very, very long time, and many are leaving because the pressure is too great.”
The union is not among the strikers in England as votes fell below the legal turnout threshold in December.
NHS health worker unions are divided over a wage increase proposal ahead of a May 2 NHS staff council meeting of health worker unions, employers and government officials to discuss wages.
Last month, members of the Royal College of Nursing voted narrowly to reject the current salary proposal, with 46% in favor of the salary agreement but 54% opposed, with just 61% of members voting.
Trainee doctors continue to push for a much larger 35% raise, which the British Medical Association says will wipe out years of wage increases below inflation.
Source: I News
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