Increases, lump sum pay await midwives following the agreement
Hospital midwives in New Zealand are set for a "significant increase" after they voted in favour of a pay equity settlement from Te Whatu Ora.
"The approved settlement will mean a significant pay rise, backdated to April 2022, for the Te Whatu Ora midwifery workforce," Te Whatu Ora said in a media release.
The agreement was agreed upon by the Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO) on Friday.
Under the settlement, graduate midwives will see their salaries increase to $76,235, while the top rate for a core midwife will be hiked to $100,862. The pay range for senior midwives will also be from $106,810 to $153,060.
An additional lump sum payment of up to $15,000 will also be granted for midwives employed during January 1, 2020, to April 4, 2022.
"I want to acknowledge everyone involved for reaching this settlement and to thank our midwifery workforce for the difference you make and for approving this settlement," said Margie Apa, Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive, in a statement.
Apa also said she was "delighted" by the outcome as it recognises the vital work of midwives.
"Addressing pay inequity for our workforce has been a key priority for Te Whatu Ora, and significant progress has been made in the past year to address historical pay inequities across our health professions," Apa said.
"It's important we don't have sex-based inequity between our health workforces and other workforces in Aotearoa."
Meanwhile, NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said the settlement was a "milestone in the history of midwifery" in New Zealand.
"It is also just a beginning, and we look forward to working with Te Whatu Ora to continue addressing all the gender-based discriminations nurses, health care assistants, midwives and kaimahi hauora face," Goulter said in a statement.
Early this year, more than 30,000 nurses of Te Whatu Ora also overwhelmingly accepted a pay equity settlement that will grant them higher pay rates and a lump sum payment of up to $15,000.
