NHS strikes in Scotland have been averted after unions representing midwives and nurses voted to accept the Scottish Government’s pay offer.
Just over half of Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members voted in the ballot, with 53.4% of those voting to accept the offer equating to an average 6.5% increase in 2023/24.
Around half (49%) of members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) voted in the ballot, with 69% voting to accept the deal.
Last week, Unison and the GMB unions also voted to accept the pay offer.
The RCN said that while the vote ends an immediate threat of strike action, a significant minority of members voted to reject the offer, demonstrating their “continued frustration and concern” about the ongoing staffing crisis in the NHS.
It called for the Scottish Government to “live up” to its promise to reform the Agenda for Change and make nursing a career of choice once again.
Colin Poolman, director of RCN Scotland, said: “Our members voted for strike action with a heavy heart. Their commitment to standing up for patients and their profession brought the Scottish Government back to the table.
“Members have narrowly voted to accept this offer but the Scottish Government must be under no illusion, much more is required for nursing staff to feel valued and to ensure Scotland has the nursing workforce it needs.”
Meanwhile, the RCM called for an improvement to working conditions across Scotland after a report last year showed three-quarters of midwives had considered leaving the profession.
Jaki Lambert, RCM director for Scotland, said: “This is a good offer that gives our members most of what they had been asking for, including an above-inflation pay award and a commitment to reform of NHS pay bands.
“While pay is crucial, this was also about midwives feeling seen and valued. Improving retention through better working conditions, professional midwifery issues and the wellbeing of staff are also a key component of this.
“Most importantly, it was also about our members standing tall and being prepared to take action to ensure better care for women, babies and their families.”
Last month, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf committed to establish a nursing and midwifery taskforce which will recommend a series of actions to support the retention and development of existing nursing staff and encourage more people to consider a career in nursing.
Separately, all staff working at the Scottish Parliament will earn a minimum of £15 an hour thanks to a “landmark” agreement.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants and those working in government bodies, said the pay deal means entry level staff at the Scottish Parliament will be more than £6,000 a year better off
It said workers such as security and visitor services staff will benefit from a “significant victory” for the union.
PCS bosses are urging others to follow suit and “pay a wage that provides a decent standard of living”.
Ruby Gibson, the union’s industrial officer for Scotland, said: “During this cost-of-living crisis, workers everywhere are struggling to survive, and this is felt most acutely by the lowest paid.
“In implementing a £15 minimum wage, the Scottish Parliament is at the forefront of this progressive move and employers everywhere should follow suit and pay a wage that provides a decent standard of living.”
Meanwhile, lecturers in Scotland’s colleges have begun voting on taking industrial action over a lack of progress in pay negotiations, a union has said.
Members of the EIS Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-Fela) are being balloted following what the union says is a lack of progress in pay negotiations.
Employers have not improved on an offer of a 2% salary uplift, which was rejected by union negotiators before Christmas.
The statutory ballot runs from 20 March until 13 April and members of EIS-Fela are being asked to indicate whether they are willing to take strike action or industrial action short of strike action.
Industrial action would see a marking boycott and a withdrawal of goodwill which could pose a disruption to students.
College lecturers have engaged in strike action eight times over the last nine years.
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said lecturers had “no other option” than to consider striking once again.
She said: “College employers must return to the negotiating table with an offer far above the insulting 2% offer that has already been rejected by the EIS-Fela negotiators.
“The Scottish Government also has a responsibility to ensure that college lecturers, who are vital public sector workers, are afforded a pay rise that addresses the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.”
Lecturers claim they are being treated less favourably than other workers, in both Scottish education and across the public sector.
EIS-Fela president Charlie Montgomery said: “College leaders must get serious about ending the cycle of industrial action in the Further Education sector and avoid widespread disruption to college provision prior to the summer break.
“This begins by ensuring their lecturing staff receive a fair pay award.
“Additionally, the Scottish Government cannot avoid its responsibility to ensure that public sector college lecturers receive a fair pay rise, especially when they have directly intervened in other public sector pay disputes.”
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