Scottish health secretary Neil Gray must start NHS pay talks before April, says the country’s biggest health union, UNISON today (Tuesday).
The union has made the ultimatum in a letter to Mr Gray today. If he has not made adequate progress on reaching an acceptable offer by April, the union will start a consultative ballot for strike action over pay, recommending a yes vote to move towards industrial action.
NHS staff are already angry that the Scottish government has ditched plans to reduce the working week for this year, and are still waiting for pay talks to begin, adds UNISON.
Now parliament has passed the Scottish budget there are no further barriers to stop the health secretary getting round the table with unions, says UNISON.
UNISON Scotland co-lead for health Matt McLaughlin said: “The health secretary must come to the table with a credible pay offer without further delay, as anger is growing amongst NHS staff.
“The government says it values NHS workers. But once again ministers are late starting pay talks and have already ditched an agreement to reduce the working week this year. Staff feel like they’ve been left high and dry. Unless talks start soon, UNISON will have no choice but to start a consultative strike ballot.
“The Scottish budget process has just finished, so Neil Gray has no more excuses. If the health secretary fails to deliver on pay, staff will lose any remaining trust they had in him. Any remaining staff goodwill will quickly evaporate, making NHS reform, more difficult.”
Notes to editors:
–UNISON is the largest health union, representing over 60,000 NHS staff in Scotland including nurses, midwives, call handlers, paramedics, administrators, allied professional staff, caterers, porters and facilities staff.
–UNISON and other unions submitted their pay claim for NHS workers on 21 January 2024.
–No date has yet been set for pay talks.
–The annual NHS cost of living pay increase is due on 1 April 2025.