UNISON recommends health workers vote ‘ACCEPT’ as pay ballot launches 

More than 50,000 health workers will today (Monday) begin to vote on the Scottish government’s final pay offer – with UNISON recommending its members accept the offer. 

UNISON, Scotland’s largest health union, says it is recommending the offer to members as it believes it is the best that can be achieved through negotiation. 

This final pay offer: 

  • Would increase the NHS pay bill in Scotland by over £500m and an average of 7.5%. 
  • It would see bands 1 to 4 receive a flat rate payment of £2,205; bands 5 to 7 receive pay increases ranging from £2,280 to £2,660; and band 8A receive a 5% increase. 
  • NHS pay increases would range from 11.24% for the bottom of band 2 and 5.56% for the top of band 7.  

Wilma Brown, chair of UNISON Scotland’s health committee, said: “We have decided to recommend this offer to our members, as we believe it’s the best that can be achieved through negotiations. It will go some way to helping NHS members with the cost-of-living crisis. 

“However, as we have said to the Scottish government, there’s a huge amount of work to do to get our NHS back to being world class again. This must be the start of the reforms and investment needed to get the NHS back to full health.” 

Matt McLaughlin, UNISON Scotland’s head of health, said: “Our digital consultative ballot will launch today and run for two weeks. Our branches and activists will be encouraging members to accept this final offer. However members decide to vote it is important they have their say and we’re urging members to make sure they vote before noon on December 12.” 

Notes to editors 

  • UNISON is Scotland’s largest health union. 
  • UNISON Scotland’s digital consultative ballot launches today (Monday) and will close at noon on December 12 
  • You can view the full pay offer online here: https://unison-scotland.org/nhs-pay-2022/