Media Release

21 November 2018

NZCOM Members Support MERAS Midwives Striking From Tomorrow

“We must stand together to stop the underpaying of female-dominated professions.”

New Zealand College of Midwives Chief Executive, Karen Guilliland, says the MERAS union midwives’ rolling strike starting tomorrow, is a clear indication of the serious issues the profession is facing.

“Midwives do not take the decision to strike lightly. she says. “This is only the second time in history midwives have taken the decision  to strike. This has been a very difficult decision for midwives to make and the College supports the employed (DHB) midwives 100%”, she says.”

All midwives in New Zealand have the same scope of practice, education, clinical responsibility and accountability regardless of where they work. Midwives working in hospitals are facing critical workforce shortages and deserve recognition as the distinct and specialised profession that they are. The Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) members are striking for this recognition. Until working conditions and staffing shortages are addressed, hospital employed midwives will continue to struggle to manage workloads that challenge their ability to provide the level of care that women and babies deserve.

“Achieving a MECA (Multi-Employer Collective Agreement) agreement that recognises and values the work of employed midwives, is a first step in addressing the critical workforce issues within the profession”, says Karen Guilliland.

Contact: Ali Jones, RedPR  03 281 7440, or 027 247 3112