Thousands of NHS staff will be balloted for strike action tomorrow if the Scottish Government fails to increase an “insulting” pay offer. Unison is to ask its 35,000 members across NHS Scotland to vote for a walk-out in the first of two ballots.
Local branch staff have also been told to get “strike ready”, as staff including nurses, cleaners, NHS24 staff and ambulance crews take part in a consultative ballot. The union is calling for an increase to five per cent, arguing that staff are being “taken for granted” with the below-inflation offer.
Some health service workers said they are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table due to the cost-of-living crisis, with one even saying she’d be better paid at McDonald’s. They also said they are working longer due to the backlogs from the pandemic and staff shortages affecting most areas of the health service.
