Union bosses claim that a pay deal rejected by nurses and midwives has now been “imposed” on workers.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Royal College of Midwives and NHS and ambulance staff in GMB Scotland voted to reject a pay deal from the Scottish Government, which would see an average wage increase of 7.5 per cent.
They are planning to strike in the new year – the first such move in the history of RCN Scotland – while Unite and Unison have called off industrial action after accepting the offer.
But after discussions between the unions and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf on Friday, it emerged that the offer will be given to all staff covered by the Action for Change programme – whether they voted to accept it or not.
Director of RCN Scotland, Colin Poolman, 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.”
GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services, Keir Greenaway, said: “The Scottish Government’s imposition of the NHS pay offer – despite being rejected by thousands of frontline healthcare staff – is an attack on workers and an attempt to silence the voice of those who faced the pandemic on the frontline of our health services and are now in the grips of a cost of living crisis.
“But our members will not be silenced. They have spoken loudly and clearly that the offer is not good enough. Our members will consider their next steps, but the Scottish Government is forcing NHS and SAS staff onto the picket lines.”
In response, 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 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.”
