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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/829/19503
From The Socialist newspaper, 15 October 2014
First NHS pay strike for 30 years
Members of RCM outside Newham hospital, East London, photo Helen Pattison (Click to enlarge)
On 13 October, NHS workers in six unions - Unison, Unite, GMB, Royal College of Midwives (RCM), Ucatt and British Association of Occupational Therapists - went on strike for four hours, the first NHS pay strike for three decades.
A midwife from Shropshire told the Socialist why her union was striking for the first time ever.
The RCM voted 82.2% to support the action. Usually the last thing on our minds is to withdraw our labour. However, many of us feel that if this stand is not made, maternity services will be thrown into chaos.
Many women have reported they have not received one-to-one care when they are in labour due to a chronic shortage of midwives, which has continued for over a decade.
There's an estimated national shortage of 2,300 but the RCM say the real figure is closer to 5,000 as many midwives are close to retirement.
Morale of midwives is so low that a third with less than ten years' experience are planning to quit within the next year. Many have to work overtime to make ends meet. Pension contributions have increased, with the retirement age going up to 65 or over.
The RCM estimate midwives work an average of at least eight hours unpaid overtime a month, working through breaks and after the shift has ended to ensure women receive the care they deserve.
To follow the strike, the RCN has withdrawn for one week all the unpaid overtime that we would normally do.
All midwives are asking for is a 1% pay rise, as recommended by the pay review body. We are not asking for anything like the 11% pay rise that has been recommended for MPs. If midwives were given pay rises in line with inflation since 2010 our annual pay would be £4,000 higher.
- See strike picket line reports at www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/19483
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In The Socialist 15 October 2014:
£££ Britain needs a pay rise
Fight for mass action to end cuts and low pay
Mark Serwotka: Building a strong, fighting union
Fight the cuts!
How a mass campaign stopped the cuts
Challenging the austerity parties
Barking and Dagenham council at a crossroads
Socialist Party news and analysis
Tories and Labour in crisis after Ukip win
International socialist news and analysis
Ireland: Stunning byelection victory for Socialist Party
Obama's strategy to beat IS lies in tatters
Socialist Party workplace news
First NHS pay strike for 30 years
Local government pay: reject offer, reinstate action!
Care UK workers mark 81st strike day
600 St Mungo's housing workers to strike for a week
Recycling workers strike over pay and conditions
Severfields engineers strike against bonus cut
Youth Fight for Jobs
Young workers say: decent jobs now
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
'Political awakening' continues in Scotland
Building the Socialist Party
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