Unison latest to advise nurses to accept pay deal in Scotland

The pay deal proposed by the Scottish Government last week sees staff on NHS Agenda for Change contracts receiving an average pay increase of 6.5% for 2023-24.

The offer also includes a one-off payment of between £387 and £939 depending on the banding.

Unison will make the offer to its members in a consultative digital vote beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, February 23) and ending at 12 noon on Friday, March 17.

Unison Scotland’s Health Committee met this week to consider the salary offer and has recommended that members vote to accept the salary offer.

The Royal College of Nursing in Scotland has also advised members to accept the offer.

Wilma Brown, Chair of Unison Scotland’s Health Committee, said: “After the Scottish Government’s long delays in settling wage claims over the past year, we are pleased that they have honored their promise to start early wage talks.”

As well as pay, the latest offer also includes a range of reforms for the health and social work force in Scotland.

The Government has committed to modernizing the Agenda for Change Treaty to support the recruitment, sustainability and retention of the workforce.

The agreement also recognizes the commitments outlined in the 2022-23 salary package to reduce the workweek, give nurses protected study time and review Level 5 nursing profiles.

Ms Brown said that while pay was “undoubtedly a major issue”, the ongoing pressure created by the staffing crisis was “on the forefront” of members’ minds.

She added: “After careful consideration, the Unison Health Committee recommends that members accept this offer and that we get payment into people’s pockets as soon as possible.

“However, the fight for staffing levels and fair pay for hard-working NHS workers remains our priority.”

Consolidating the deal implemented for 2022-23 and the offer for 2023-24, if accepted, a newly qualified nurse would see her salary increased by £4,125 (16%) over two years.

Meanwhile, an experienced nurse at the top of Volume 5 would see her salary improve by more than £4,749 (14%) over two years.

Matt McLaughlin, Unison Scotland’s chief health officer, took note of those figures and said it was up to members to decide whether to accept the offer.

He said: “As Scotland’s largest healthcare union, we welcome the commitment to revise the Agenda for Change terms and conditions – after 20 years this is long overdue.

“The Scottish Government’s commitment that this review will focus on recruiting, retaining and rewarding Unison members in the NHS represents a real opportunity for us to influence positive change and work towards bringing the NHS back to full health .”

Unison joins other healthcare unions in Scotland as their members are also voting on the latest offer.

The RCN announced earlier this week that it will recommend its members to adopt the collective bargaining agreement in a consultative vote beginning Tuesday 28 February and ending Monday 20 March at 9am.

Today, the GMB union, which also has a strike mandate in the country, launched a consultative vote on the wage agreement. The election ends on Wednesday, March 15th.

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland’s lead organizer for public services, said: “Regardless of whether this offer is accepted or rejected, the salary offers for this year and last year will not be the peak mark for the value of our hard-pressed NHS staff. “

He added: “There is no doubt that enforcing statutory strike orders and the threat of strikes has secured more money for all employees, but our members will now have the final say on whether the offer goes far enough to settle this dispute.” end.”

The Royal College of Midwives has also said it will open the offer to its members but has not yet announced a date for a vote.