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
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
Enable Scotland workers announce strike dates
Care staff working at Enable Scotland are to go on strike in a dispute over pay, their union UNISON has ... Read More
Lack of rest breaks for ambulance staff putting patient safety at risk
Paramedics and other ambulance staff are being asked if they are willing to take strike action in a dispute over ... Read More
UNISON recommends NHS staff vote to accept pay offer
Thousands of NHS staff are being urged to vote to accept the Scottish government’s two-year pay offer in a ballot ... Read More
NHS Scotland staff to be balloted on pay offer, says UNISON
NHS staff in Scotland are to be consulted on an above-inflation two-year pay offer, says UNISON today (Tuesday). The union ... Read More
Latest briefings and submissions
Dishing the dirt – Cleaners in Scotland’s public services speak out
Long before most of us get to work – or after most of us have left our job a vital ...
Health Inequalities in Scotland
This paper on health inequalities in Scotland was developed as our submission to the Health Inequalities Review commissioned by Neil ...
Draft Regulations relating to Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act – Set 2 response
There appears to be total disregard for the Staff Governance Standard within the document and there was an expectation that ...
Draft Regulations relating to Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act Set 1 response
As far as we can see there is nothing in these regulations that refer to the Chief Officer of the ...
Briefing 55: Bargaining – Health and social care integration regulations – Set 2
KEY POINTS: These regulations (set 2) implement the Scottish Government’s plans for health and social care integration They prescribe which ...
The cuts don’t work
The impact of ‘austerity’ cuts on Scotland’s public services Lilian Macer, UNISON’s Scottish Convener : “It’s impossible to take this ...
More on briefings page