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
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
Emergency NHS summit ignores biggest health union
First Minister John Swinney has excluded the largest health union from tomorrow's urgent Bute House summit to discuss the renewal ... Read More
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 ... Read More
Biggest NHS union in Scotland votes to accept pay offer
NHS staff have voted to accept the Scottish government’s pay offer, says UNISON today (Friday). Scotland’s biggest health union has ... Read More
UNISON to recommend NHS members accept Scottish government pay offer
UNISON, the biggest union in the NHS, will recommend that its members working in the NHS vote to accept the ... Read More
UNISON to consult NHS staff in Scotland on 5.5% pay offer
UNISON, the biggest union in the NHS, will consider the Scottish government’s offer of a 5.5% pay rise for staff, ... Read More
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 ... Read More
Latest briefings and submissions
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Scotland Bill
This is our response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for views on Gillian Mackay MSP’s Abortion ...
Briefing 136 – The ‘Safe Staffing’ Act in the NHS.
The Health and Care Staffing (Scotland) Act comes into force in April 2024. The Bill gives staff in the NHS ...
Towards a REAL National Care Service for Scotland – Full Report
With the National Care Service Bill in tatters, this timely report makes a compelling case for the direct public delivery ...
e brief – Update on the National Care Service Bill October 2023
Since its introduction in June 2022, UNISON has campaigned for the National Care Service Bill to be withdrawn. We want ...
NHS staff managing childcare because of school strikes
We are receiving reports that some local managers are telling NHS staff that they should take annual leave or unpaid ...
Winter preparedness – response to Health, Social Care & Sport Committee
This is UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for evidence[1] for the ...
More on briefings page