Nurses in Scotland to vote on new pay offer
Nurses in Scotland are to be consulted on the Scottish Government's latest pay offer, their union has announced.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says it would consult with members on the new offer - described as "best and final" by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf when it was made last week.
But the RCN will not make any recommendations to its members on how to vote on the issue.
According to the Scottish Government, the deal would mean NHS workers in Scotland would remain the best paid in the UK, and workers would get pay rises ranging from £2,205 to £2,751.
For the lowest paid it would be a rise of 11.3%, with an average rise of 7.5%.
Julie Lamberth, the chairwoman of the RCN Scotland board, said: "The Scottish Government is repeatedly failing to recognise the clinical skill, expertise and leadership of registered nurses.
"None of the offers made to date will do enough to attract more people into nursing and to retain the skilled nurses we already have. We know that nursing staff are increasingly thinking of leaving the profession.
"Governments across the UK need to demonstrate that nursing staff are valued. That's why we have been campaigning for an inflation plus 5% pay increase.
"It is essential that all members working in the NHS have their say on what the Scottish Government says is its 'best and final' offer.
"If our members vote to reject the latest revised offer, the RCN will act on the clear mandate for strike action voted for by members."
The vote will last from December 5 to midday on December 19.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf welcomed the RCN's decision to put the offer to a ballot.
It comes after he said the Scottish Government has "engaged tirelessly with trade union representatives over recent weeks, leaving no stone unturned to reach an offer which responds to the key concerns of staff across the service".
The Health Secretary said: "This best and final pay offer of over half a billion pounds underlines our commitment to supporting our fantastic NHS staff. A newly qualified nurse would see a pay rise of 8.7%, and experienced nurses would get uplifts of between £2,450 and £2,751.
"We are making this offer at a time of extraordinary financial challenges to the Scottish Government.
"We have made the best offer possible to get money into the pockets of hard working staff and to avoid industrial action, in what is already going to be an incredibly challenging winter. If the offer is agreed this pay uplift will also be backdated to April."
Mr Yousaf added: "Finally, I would urge the UK Government to get back to the negotiating table with the unions. This settlement has been shaped by the unions' constructive approach and I hope it is backed by their members."