Pay Campaign 2014and Pensions Update

The Royal College of Midwives

The Royal College of Midwives

The Government have rejected the Pay Review Body’s recommendation for 1% for all staff.

The offer for 2014/15 is:

A non-consolidated award of 1% for only staff that are at the top of their pay band. Staff who are still receiving increments will not get an uplift.

The Royal College of Midwives

‘Non consolidated’ means that staff will only receive the payment for one year then it will be taken away. Additionally:•the 1% uplift is not pensionable; and•the 1% is only added to basic pay so will not be added to High Cost Area Supplements; overtime or unsocial hours payments.

The Royal College of Midwives

The Government have also said that the same award will be in place for 2015/16 and therefore they will not ask the NHS Pay Review Body to report next year.

This is about more than just a 1% pay uplift, this is an unprecedented attack on the NHS pay structure.

The Royal College of Midwives

This is a fundamental attack on the NHS pay structure because it attempts to:

•Remove incremental progression;•Move towards a bonus style pay structure with temporary uplifts that only some staff receive; and•Remove the NHS Pay Review Body

The Royal College of Midwives

Since 2010 Midwives and Maternity Support Workers have faced:

•three years of pay restraint; •three years of pension contribution increases; •changes to terms and conditions in England and Wales;•Increases to NMC fees.

The Royal College of Midwives

We are coordinating with other NHS trade unions and we will be consulting with members in June about taking industrial action.

Please make sure your membership details are up to date and if anyone is not yet a member they need to join the RCM to get their say.

The Royal College of Midwives

In 2015 the NHS Pension Scheme will be changing to:

•career average pension with an accrual of 1/54•average contribution rate of 9.8%;•normal pension age linked to state pension age

The Royal College of Midwives

The pensions deal included protection for everyone who was within 10 years of their current NHS pension age on 1st April 2012.

The RCM balloted members in spring 2012 who voted to accept the agreement.

The Royal College of Midwives

The pensions agreement also included a review into the impact of working longer in the NHS.

The review group has just published it’s first report which included recommendations to simplify pensions information and produce guidance for employers about occupational health in the context of an ageing workforce.

The Royal College of Midwives