UNISON is the UK’s largest health union. More than 60,000 UNISON members work in the NHS in Scotland: nurses, student nurses, midwives, health visitors, healthcare assistants, paramedics, occupational therapists, cleaners, porters, catering staff, medical secretaries, clerical and admin staff and scientific and technical staff.
UNISON cares passionately about the future of the NHS as a publicly funded service that is free at the point of delivery. The NHS is a public service we can all be proud of, and UNISON wants to keep it that way.
See also important information for workers registered with regulatory bodies.
Speaking up for Scotland’s health workers
UNISON organisers and activists work together to make sure our members’ concerns are heard – whether it’s about pay, health and safety, discrimination or the future of our NHS.
- Offering advice at work;
- Representing our members in the workplace
- Lobbying parliaments and government on issues our members care about;
- Negotiating terms and conditions for NHS Scotland staff;
- Raising professional and local concerns that affect all health workers.
- Standing up for the NHS and broader health services
Health News
Jeane Freeman had formidable understanding of the NHS
Commenting on the news that former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has died aged 72, UNISON Scotland head of health ... Read More
Inflation figures trigger small pay increase for NHS staff
Commenting on a small rise in pay for NHS staff in Scotland due to an inflation guarantee built into their ... Read More
UNISON Scotland budget response: A budget that fails public services, says UNISON
UNISON's Scottish secretary Lilian Macer said: "Today’s Scottish budget does not go far enough to address the deepening crisis across ... Read More
Response to Audit Scotland’s report into delayed discharges
Commenting on the Auditor General and Accounts Commission report ‘Delayed Discharges: A sign of Wider Challenges in Health and Social ... Read More
Political manoeuvring will not fix the NHS in Scotland, says UNISON
Thursday 13 November 2025 For immediate release Political manoeuvring will not fix the NHS in Scotland, says UNISON Commenting on ... Read More
Briefing 168 – Population challenges for public services and the economy
This briefing looks at the implications of current and projected demographic change. It summarises recent publications from the Improvement Service ... Read More
Glasgow nurses vote to strike in pay banding dispute, say UNISON
Nurses in greater Glasgow, who provide essential medical services to patients in their homes, have voted overwhelmingly (96%) to strike in a dispute ... Read More
Briefing 165 – Scottish Government Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan
The Scottish Government has published it's Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan. The aim of the document is to provide some detail ... Read More
Moving to monthly pay will cause hundreds of low-paid NHS staff to fall into debt and hardship, says UNISON
Around 600 NHS staff could be forced to take out loans to make ends meet if their employer switches from ... Read More
NHS staff vote to accept two-year pay offer, says UNISON
NHS staff have voted to accept the Scottish government’s two-year pay offer, says UNISON today (Thursday). Members of Scotland’s biggest ... Read More
Latest briefings and submissions
Briefing 168 – Population challenges for public services and the economy
This briefing looks at the implications of current and projected demographic change. It summarises recent publications from the Improvement Service ...
Briefing 165 – Scottish Government Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan
The Scottish Government has published it's Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan. The aim of the document is to provide some detail ...
e-brief – Insourcing of Adult Residential and Home Care
This briefing provides recent examples of where, how and why adult social care services have been returned in-house ('insourced') to ...
Briefing 150 – NCS Bill Update: National Care Service abandoned
The Government has finally abandoned its plans to create a National Care Service (NCS). This was confirmed to Parliament on ...
National Care Service Bill (Stage 2) Draft Amendments: Call for Views
On 24 June the Scottish Government belatedly published its draft amendments to the National Care Service (Scotland) bill. This is ...
Briefing 143 National Care Service Bill: Reform of Integrated Joint Boards
This briefing gives an overview of the IJB reforms set out in the government’s Stage 2 amendments to the NCS ...
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