NHS strike action looms as Scottish Government presses ahead with latest pay offer
That's despite three unions rejecting the deal
Last updated 23rd Dec 2022
Strike action by NHS workers in Scotland is “inevitable” after the Scottish Government announced it was pushing through with its latest pay offer.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf met with trade union bosses on Friday to inform them that the deal - 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 it was the "best and final offer", with no additional funds available.
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.
"Not the Christmas present" health workers deserve
The RCN said it will now continue with planned strike action in the new year, with dates set to be outlined in January.
Colin Poolman, director of RCN Scotland, 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.
"Unless further negotiations take place and a better offer is made I now fear that strike action in the NHS in Scotland in the New Year is inevitable.”
"Record pay deal"
Despite the threat of strike action looming from unions rejecting the offer, M 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."
Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie accused the health secretary 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."