Midwives are to consider industrial action for the first time in their history over a pay offer in the latest sign of unrest among NHS staff - reports the BBC.
Midwives in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been offered a 1.5% pay rise followed by an extra 1% later.
The government says this is affordable, but midwives want 2.5% immediately - as is happening in Scotland.
Union leaders have been asked by midwives to consider industrial action as nurses ponder a similar move.
Last week, the Royal College of Nursing announced it would be balloting members to see if they wanted to be balloted on industrial action.
Nurses are also angry about the pay offer and if they did decide to take action it would also be a first for them.
Delegates at the Royal College of Midwives conference asked the union's governing council to consider balloting the 37,000 members over industrial action.
The college said the average midwife on £26,700 a year was facing a cut of nearly £700 in real terms as the retail price index shows inflation is running at 4.5%.
RCM general secretary Dame Karlene Davis said: "This overwhelming vote shows the strength of feeling about this issue."
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