NHS staff in Scotland are to be consulted on an above-inflation two-year pay offer, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
The union says that cabinet secretary for health Neil Gray has offered 4.25% for this year and 3.75% for 2026/27.
The offer also includes an ‘inflation guarantee’, which means NHS staff will be paid 1% above the CPI rate of inflation if it increases.
UNISON’s health committee is to meet later this week to discuss the offer before consulting its NHS members in a digital ballot.
UNISON Scotland co-lead for health Matt McLaughlin said: “The government has said that this is its final offer.
“The union’s health committee will now take soundings from NHS staff and then meet to discuss next steps.
“UNISON members always have the final say on their pay so the union will put it to them in consultative ballot as soon as that can be arranged.”
Notes to editors:
–UNISON and other health unions met the cabinet secretary for health Neil Gray for pay talks last week. As a result, unions received a formal and final written offer from the Scottish government today (Tuesday). Details on the offer are here. It’s a two-year offer and breaks down as:
- 2025/2026 – a pay rise to all staff, including to allowances of 4.25%
- 2026/2027 – a pay rise to all staff, including to allowances of 3.75%
–The offer includes an ‘inflation guarantee’, which means that, if accepted, in each year of this deal pay would increase by at least 1% above the calendar year average CPI inflation rate.
–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.