NHS strike averted as workers overwhelmingly accept 5.5% pay offer from Scottish Government

NHS workers have overwhelmingly voted to accept a 5.5% pay rise from the Scottish Government.

Unite the Union members who participated in the ballot voted 93% to accept the deal.

It comes after both Unite and Unison urged their members to back the offer, although Unison’s ballot doesn’t close until Friday, September 20.

The Scottish Government tabled the deal, which is in line with that proposed in England, to NHS Scotland staff in August.

It could see almost 170,000 employees – including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters and others – receive a pay rise that would be backdated to April.

With the package worth £448m, Unite said that the lowest-paid workers would get a £1,278 salary increase, and a new hourly rate of £12.71, if the offer is accepted.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s thousands of members working in NHS Scotland have overwhelmingly backed a good pay offer which has been successfully negotiated by their union.”

“Unite will always stand up for better jobs, pay and conditions in the health service because NHS Scotland workers should be rewarded for their outstanding work and professionalism.”

Unite members across the NHS include workers in estates, porters, the ambulance service, medical equipment management, scientists and theatre roles.

James O’Connell, Unite’s lead negotiator for the health sector, said: “Unite has secured an inflation-beating pay increase for our NHS Scotland membership.

“We believe the offer was the best negotiable under the present public financial circumstances, and it will provide a significant boost to take-home pay.”

Health secretary Neil Gray said: “I am delighted that Unite the Union have voted to accept this pay offer, which ensures NHS staff in Scotland including nurses, paramedics, and ancillary staff, have the best reward package in the UK.”