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
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
Huge rise in private ambulance costs across NHS Scotland is the ‘tip of the iceberg’, says UNISON
Cash-strapped Scottish health boards are paying increasing amounts of their overstretched budgets to private ambulance firms, new figures published by ... Read More
Anger grows as NHS staff are left high and dry on pay
Scottish health secretary Neil Gray must start NHS pay talks before April, says the country's biggest health union, UNISON today ... Read More
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 ... Read More
‘Anger’ over Neil Gray’s announcement to delay reduction of the working week for NHS staff
Commenting on Scottish health secretary's announcement that he will not reduce the working week, until April 2026 UNISON Scotland co-lead ... Read More
Patients and staff need action now from John Swinney rather than empty promises
Patients and staff must be at the heart of any Scottish government plans if the NHS is to have any ... Read More
Latest briefings and submissions
Integration of Care in Social Care in Social Care in Scotland
UNISON Scotland members have been involved in various proposals for the integration of health and care services since the late1990s ...
Mental Health Strategy 2012 – 2015
UNISON acknowledges the work that the current Scottish Government and previous administrations have undertaken to tackle the challenges that mental ...
Care Integration Comments to Health & Sport Committee
We understand that at present the Government intends to integrate health and social care primarily through legislation to replace Community ...
Inquiry into regulation of care for older people
UNISON Scotland believes a major mistake in the provision care of the elderly was to allow profit to be part ...
Care Integration statement
This statement covers UNISON Scotland’s initial response to proposals for the integration of care services in Scotland either through a ...
Social Care Procurement Guidelines
UNISON Scotland welcomes the publication of Guidelines on social care procurement and can support some aspects of them. However, we ...
More on briefings page