Strike action in Scotland's NHS looms as staff claim the Scottish Government has imposed a pay offer despite overwhelming rejection from three health unions.
Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf met with representatives from trade unions on Friday to inform them that the pay offer – which will see wages rise by an average of 7.5% and 11.3% for the lowest earners – will go through in the new year. Mr Yousaf said the deal is the “best and final offer”, with no additional funds available for the 2022/23 pay increase.
However, he pledged to continue “meaningful dialogue” with unions to work on an improved pay offer for subsequent years. The offer has been rejected by members of the GMB, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), while Unite and Unison accepted it.
Colin Poolman, director of RCN Scotland, said 82% of the union’s members rejected the deal. It will now continue with planned strike action in the new year, with dates set to be outlined in January.
He said: “There is no doubt that our members are long overdue a pay increase for this year, but this is not the Christmas present they deserve. RCN members rejected this offer and now, for the second year in a row, the Scottish Government is ignoring them and imposing what is a real-terms pay cut.
“This pay offer is not what is needed to recognise our members’ safety-critical role, stop nursing staff leaving the profession or attract the nurses of the future. We will continue our planning for strike action in the new year and early in January we will announce dates for historic strike action in Scotland.”
Jaki Lambert, director of RCM Scotland, said: “Let us be clear: this is an imposition, not an acceptance, of the pay award. Our members have consistently spoken loud and clear – this pay offer by the Scottish Government is simply not good enough.”
Ms Lambert added the offer “failed to meet the needs of the vast majority of members on pay”. She continued: “We appreciate the investment in the future of midwifery in Scotland, but sadly this does nothing to address the current needs of the maternity workforce. If the Scottish Government is as committed to NHS staff as they say they are, they need to offer a much better deal.”
GMB Scotland said the imposition of the pay day is “an attack on workers” and an “attempt to silence the voice of those who faced the pandemic on the front line”.
But Mr Yousaf said: “Given that the majority of unions representing the majority of unionised Action for Change staff have accepted the pay deal, we will now move to implement this record pay deal. We believe it is right to get additional money into the pay packet of NHS staff in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.
“NHS staff need the certainty of a pay uplift in this financial year, and I can only do this by implementing the deal now. I am absolutely committed to meaningful dialogue with trade unions in order to avert strike action and am prepared to meet throughout the festive period to continue that dialogue.
“I need to be upfront and honest that I have no more money for pay in 2022/23. However I am keen to discuss how we make progress on significant non-pay issues that are important for the sustainability of the workforce, and also how we make early progress on next year’s pay deal.”
He said he is committed to avoiding historic walkouts by NHS staff in January. Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie accused Mr Yousaf of “imposing” the offer on staff.
She said: “I asked Humza Yousaf yesterday whether he would refrain from imposing a pay settlement on the NHS and he failed to answer. We now know why. It is clear that his plan was to impose this rejected pay deal all along.”
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