Midwives and maternity support workers across Northern Ireland are to take strike action next month.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said the half-day strike will take place on January 18 as part of a dispute over pay.
It said staff from all five health trusts in the north will take to the picket lines between 8am and noon.
The RCM said the action was being taken as “there has been no progress towards a fair and meaningful pay offer”.
It added that the industrial action will “not impact the delivery of safe services”.
They will join teachers and other public sector workers who will also be taking part in industrial action on the same day.
The RCM said the lack of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland means “hardworking RCM members end 2023 with no resolution to the on-going dispute to improve their pay”.
Karen Murray, RCM’s director for Northern Ireland, said: “The RCM had been hopeful that the Executive would be reinstated by now, and that we could have worked towards a resolution on pay before Christmas.
“Unfortunately, this has not happened.
“Our members have been more than patient, seeing their counterparts in Scotland, Wales and England getting pay uplifts while their own stands still.
“No midwife wants to take strike action, but our patience has run out.”
Ms Murray added that staff have been “pushed too far and enough is enough”.
“Our members are overstretched and under enormous pressure to deliver safe care,” she said.
“Day in, day out midwives work flat out to help deliver safe and high-quality care for women, babies, and their families.
“Maternity services in Northern Ireland cannot continue to run on the goodwill of our hardworking members.
“Goodwill does not pay the bills.
“Moreover, morale is low, and midwives feel so undervalued, there is palpable frustration that here we are staring 2024 with no resolution to this pay dispute.”
