Midwives in Wales Set to Strike as England Falls Short
Midwives in Wales are gearing up for strike action after overwhelming support in their pay dispute, but action won’t happen in England. The reason? Not enough votes. England’s Royal College of Midwives (RCM) missed the 50% turnout threshold needed to approve strikes, exposing cracks in the law on industrial action.
RCM Vote Results Reveal Deep NHS Frustrations
In Wales, 88% of midwives who voted backed strikes, with 47% turnout from around 28,500 members. Julie Richards, RCM’s director for Wales, slammed the government’s paltry 4% pay offer as “disappointing and unacceptable.” She said Welsh midwives are “exhausted” and feel “overlooked and undervalued.”
“Taking industrial action is always a last resort,” Richards said. “Our members are desperate for policymakers to listen. The Welsh Government must act now to save maternity services and stop staff leaving in droves.”
Welsh Government Stuck in Funding Traps
A Welsh Government spokesperson admitted they understand the “anxiety and disappointment” but blamed the UK government for funding woes. “We cannot increase pay offers without extra UK funding,” the spokesman said. Meanwhile, NHS Wales is planning how to keep services running safely if strikes go ahead.
Physiotherapists Join the Revolt Across UK
It’s not just midwives on the warpath. Physio staff in over half of England’s NHS trusts and all Welsh health boards voted to strike in their first ever pay ballot. Jill Taylor, chair of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s pay committee, said, “We’re understaffed, overworked, and exhausted. The government must offer fair pay to attract and keep NHS workers.”
The UK government slammed the strikes as disappointing but claimed it can’t afford bigger pay rises given the tough economic climate.
