Midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) who are members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) for NHS Wales are set to go on strike next month over pay and working conditions. The RCM announced on Monday that strike action would take place from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday, February 7.
On top of this the union announced that their members would also take industrial action short of a strike by claiming payment for any overtime worked in the week following strike action. In December an RCM survey for the Welsh workplace branches showed that just over half (50.5%) of midwives felt they were unable to take breaks during their working day.
According to the union the safety of women will be the "prime concern" during industrial action and that there will be midwives and maternity support workers on maternity units to ensure that women who are either in labour or needing emergency care will still receive the care they need. The RCM has said that the cover will be similar to that in place on a bank holiday.
