Unison members vote to accept Scottish Government wage offer

In a digital vote where 54.0% of eligible members voted, 78.5% accepted the offer.

Another union, GMB Scotland, accepted the salary offer earlier in the week.

The salary offer, made to 160,000 NHS staff including nurses, midwives and paramedics, represents an average increase of 6.5% in 2023/24.

It also includes a commitment to modernizing the agenda for change, nearly 20 years old, to support workforce recruitment, sustainability and retention.

Unison Scotland health committee chair Wilma Brown said: “While accepting this salary offer removes the specter of industrial action, there is no reason for complacency.

“This deal does nothing to solve NHS Scotland’s staffing crisis.

“Governments’ pledges to review the workweek, provide fair wage increases for promotions and tackle the labor crisis must move quickly.

“They also need to be backed with new money to ensure patients and staff get the NHS they deserve.”

Union health chief Matt Mclaughlin said: “This deal has been agreed after intense discussions between government, unions and employers.

“Now we need to get back to the table to resolve the staffing crisis in Scotland’s NHS.

“Patients wait too long for routine surgeries and staff work in unacceptably onerous conditions.

“Unison has agreed to resume direct talks with the Government to review nursing care, reduce vacancies and re-examine NHS pay structures.

“The NHS needs to be made fit for purpose so that staff can provide a first class service.”