UNISON, the largest NHS union, is to ballot members on the Scottish government’s latest pay offer, which was made during talks late on Tuesday night.
UNISON Scotland’s health committee has agreed today (Thursday) to ballot members and recommend they vote to accept the new pay offer. The ballot will open on Monday 28 November and close 5pm on Monday 12 December.
This final pay offer has increased the NHS pay bill in Scotland by over £500m. It would mean salary bands 1-4 receive a flat rate payment of £2,205, and salary bands 5 to 7 pay increases ranging from £2,280 to £2,660. Band 8A would get a 5% increase.
NHS pay increases would range from 11.24% for the bottom of band 2 to 5.56% for the top of salary band 7.
Chair of UNISON Scotland health committee Wilma Brown said: “These have been long, difficult negotiations and we would never have got this final offer had it not been for the resolve of UNISON NHS members. I want to thank them for standing firm.
“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.”
UNISON Scotland head of health Matt McLaughlin said: “A consultative digital ballot will run from 28 November to 12 December and we’re urging all UNISON health members vote to accept. Do not leave it to others to make these important decisions. These have been long protracted negotiations, but we need to get this deal over the line.
“The NHS still has huge problems and UNISON will continue its work to improve the NHS and get the investment it needs. We are already preparing UNISON’s campaign to improve staffing levels, reduce vacancy rates and cut waiting lists and delays for patients. UNISON will work tirelessly to ensure the NHS can remain a world class service.”
Notes
UNISON is the largest union in the NHS. UNISON Scotland represents 50,000 NHS workers across Agenda for Change including nurses, midwives and support staff, such as domestics, porters and administrative workers. The union has membership in every health board in Scotland.
See final pay offer here https://unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/NHS-Scotland-Agenda-for-Change-7.5-Pay-Offer-2022-23-v4.docx
UNISON contacts
Wilma Brown, health committee chair: 07974 027847
Matt McLaughlin, head of health: 07904 341979
Danny Phillips, communication officer: 07717 715277 / 07944 664110