New Zealand College of Midwives CEO Karen Guilliland meets with Whanganui Region midwives. Wanganui Chronicle Photograph
New Zealand College of Midwives CEO Karen Guilliland meets with Whanganui Region midwives. Wanganui Chronicle Photograph
Region midwives were happy to hear their organisation is working toward a better pay system when chief executive Karen Guilliland visited on Thursday.
Ms Guilliland wanted to update them on progress.
Midwives have been in pay equity negotiations with government since August 2015. They have been assured the outcome willbe based on the pay equity principles agreed with aged care workers this year.
Midwives' pay was set by legislation in 2007. They are paid a flat rate that is a maximum of $2200 for every woman they care for over a nine month period.
They have to cover car, phone, travel and consummable costs themselves, and are often on call. Their pay compares unfavourably with GPs (who also assist with births) or pharmacists.
Ms Guilliland wondered if that's because they're women, and women's work is less valued.
Low pay and lack of support has caused many to leave the profession. The North Island has half the number it used to have, and the situation is "really desperate" in Auckland.
In Whanganui midwife numbers are not so low, and birth outcomes are better than in big areas. Ms Guilliland put that down to the work of Whanganui obstetrician Mark Stegmann, and good integration between hospital and the community.
New Zealand midwives are working toward a new pay framework that's a mix between being salaried and being contracted. They're preparing a bid to government, and will know whether it's successful with the May 2018 budget.
Ms Guilliland is hopeful of success, because the parties that make up the present government all support pay equity.
