After months of mobilization and demonstrations, the demands of the midwives have finally been heard: their salary will be increased by 500 euros per month net.
The claims of nursing staff do not date from yesterday. If the health crisis has greatly reinforced the difficulties encountered by all caregivers, it has above all functioned as a revealing precariousness already anchored for a long time.
Faced with the mobilization of medical and paramedical employees of public hospitals and nursing homes, the government ruled in July 2020, as part of the Health Segur, on an increase of 183 euros monthly net for all hospital staff in the public sector, excluding doctors.
While midwives were affected by this upgrading, discontent with their precarious status was still palpable. After months of mobilization and negotiation between unions of Force Ouvrière, CFDT and Unsa, the Hospital Federation of France and ministers Health, Civil Service and Families, an agreement was finally reached on Monday, November 22, ensuring a net monthly revaluation of 500 euros.
A salary revalued by 500 euros net
What does this substantial increase of 500 euros ? Please note, this amount is not added to the 183 euros obtained in 2020 as part of the Ségur de la santé, which is actually included in this revaluation.
The agreed memorandum of understanding this monday 22 november foresees a two-step revaluation :
- from February, an augmentation of 240 euros monthly net qualified as “medical exercise premium”
- from March, an augmentation of 78 euros monthly net for permanent or contract midwives in public hospitals,
It is therefore by adding these 318 euros to the 183 euros paid since the end of 2020 that we arrive at the net monthly amount of 501 euros precisely. In itself, this is good progress and a much better revaluation than that planned for mid-September by Olivier Véran, then estimated at 360 euros monthly.
For the record, a midwife at the start of her career and employed in the hospital public service wins 1800 euros gross per month, i.e. a net salary of 1,400 euros.
Other reforms will also be effective concerning career advancement in the hospital, but also the upgrading of midwives from local authorities, the private sector and the liberal sector.
A half-hearted revaluation
If this “stage agreement remains positive” according to Gilles Gadier, representative of Force Ouvrière, the organizations do not want the file to be closed. “We stay on our hunger”, Concedes Jean-Claude Stutz, deputy national secretary of Unsa.
Even though this chord sounds like a good news after months of mobilization and 6 days of demonstration, the caregivers do not intend to stop there and plan a 3rd strike weekend between November 26 and 29.