Unite has confirmed its health members voted ‘yes’ by 64% to accept the improved offer tabled two weeks ago following positive discussions with Nicola Sturgeon, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, the NHS and the unions .
Unite strikes which were due to hit the Scottish Ambulance Service and the wider NHS have now been called off.
Meanwhile, members of Scotland’s largest NHS union Unison voted to accept the pay offer, with 57% of NHS members voting yes.
The improved offer represents an average increase of 7.5% in NHS Scotland with up to 11.24% for the lowest pay bands.
The offer also includes a commitment to reduce the working week from 37.5 hours to 36 hours without loss of pay.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: “The improved offer for NHS Scotland workers, which is worth more than 11% for the lowest paid groups, is testament to the determination of our members.
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“They were prepared to take the difficult step of taking industrial action, but only because they had no other choice.
“Unite is unapologetic about fighting for better jobs, pay and conditions in the health service because workers in Scotland’s NHS should be fairly rewarded for the great work they do every day.”
I am delighted that Unite & Unison members have agreed to accept our record pay offer for NHS staff. I am grateful for the positive engagement that has taken place with our trade union colleagues which has so far prevented strike action in our NHS in Scotland.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) December 12, 2022
Voting for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) closes on December 19, but the union has suspended strike action for now while it consults with members.
Wilma Brown, chair of Unison Scotland’s health committee, said that while the offer was accepted, many members voted for it “reluctantly”.
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He added: “While this decision ends the immediate threat of industrial action, it is not a victory for the government, it is a warning.
“It was not a unanimous decision and many across the NHS professional ranks feel badly let down. Almost half of Unison NHS staff voted to reject this latest pay offer and many who voted to accept did so reluctantly.
Humza Yousaf said he has been working tirelessly with the unions and welcomes their acceptance of the offer (Image: PA)
“The Cabinet Secretary has secured a pause in our members’ anger. He must now use the next round of pay to address understaffing, low staff morale and pay.”
Yousaf added: “I welcome Unison and Unite members accepting this record pay offer. We have worked tirelessly with union representatives over the last few weeks, leaving no stone unturned to reach an offer that meets the key concerns of staff across the service.
“This offer of more than half a billion pounds underlines our commitment to supporting our fantastic NHS staff. A new entry nurse would see a pay rise of 8.7%, and experienced nurses would receive rises of between £2450 and £2751.
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“We are making this offer at a time of extraordinary financial challenges for the Scottish Government to put money into the pockets of hard-working staff and avoid industrial action, in what is already an incredibly demanding winter.
“Constructive engagement is vital and I would urge the UK Government to return to the bargaining table with the unions, as we have done in Scotland.”
The resolution comes after RCN general secretary Pat Cullen told the BBC on Sunday that the union’s positive talks with Sturgeon showed how nurses were “not about to go any deeper” in negotiations, as she urged the UK’s Health Secretary, Steve Barkley to join the table.
Barclay met nurse leaders on Monday with RCN strikes still set to continue in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this week and next.
Barclay has made it clear that the UK government’s position on pay remains unchanged, although the RCN said it hoped the talks could be productive.
Secretary of State James Cleverly told Laura Kuensberg on Sunday that Barclay would continue to talk to nursing unions, but said there was a system around pay that meant unions had to discuss it with their employer, the NHS.
