The NHS pay offer pledged by Humza Yousaf is an improvement of just one per cent, the Record can reveal.
The Health Secretary told nurses at the SNP conference he would be making a “significantly improved” increase when he met union officials. But Yousaf only added an extra one per cent to the five per cent offer rejected by staff including nurses, cleaners and porters.
Inflation is already double his original offer. Last week, Yousaf admitted he had to present an improved offer but it would have to be one which is “within the financial envelope, that I don’t have to take money away from cancer services or mental health services”.
The joint negotiating committee representing all Scotland’s health unions refused to comment. But a source close to the negotiators admitted Yousaf had only upped his offer to six per cent.
Last night, one nurse on the grassroots campaign said: “People are disgusted by Humza Yousaf.” Unless there is a much bigger offer, there is now expected to be a winter of strikes in the NHS.
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “It is not good enough for the government to clap for them in appreciation for their work but then give them a derisory pay rise. He said he would be doing ‘everything in my power’ to prevent industrial action.
“Asked if a 10 per cent pay offer for nurses was on the cards, he accepted, ‘I think it’s fair to look at what we’ve offered other sectors, including local government, and say is that roughly where you want to get to or a similar package for other public sector workers’.”
The lowest paid local government workers got a rise equal to 10 per cent. A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are committed to continuing discussions.”
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