Nurses to vote on Scottish Government's latest NHS pay offer

The Royal College of Nursing is to consult members working in the NHS in Scotland on the Government’s latest revised NHS pay offer.

The latest revised pay offer is the third this year that would be a real-terms pay cut for nursing staff, the union said.

NHS workers represented by the GMB, Unite and Unison organisations are currently involved in ballots on whether to back the latest rise – which works out as an average of 7.5% across the board.

Unison has recommended supporting the offer, which was tabled last week, but those in the RCN, Unite and GMB are not being given any recommendation on how to vote in the consultation.

RCN members have previously overwhelmingly rejected a 5% offer for the majority of NHS staff.

The RCN Scotland Board rejected a revised offer made in October on behalf of members.

Julie Lamberth, chair of the RCN’s 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 Scottish Government said the latest offer was a “record high” for frontline employees, which include nurses along with paramedics and healthcare support staff.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf previously said there was “nothing left in the coffers” once this deal was voted on.

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.”

Scottish nurses’ colleagues in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are to strike on December 15 and 20 in the largest industrial action in its history.