UNISON, Scotland’s biggest
health union, is calling on the Scottish Government to set up formal structures
to negotiate direct with NHS unions in Scotland and officially leave the UK’s
NHS Pay Review Body.
The call comes after NHS
members voted overwhelmingly to accept a new three year pay deal direct with
the Scottish Government after years of being given 1% pay rises from the UK’s
NHS Pay Review Body. This is the first
year this has happened.
The UK’s NHS Pay Review Body
negotiates with health unions on pay on behalf of the NHS across the UK. UNISON members do not believe that the NHS
Pay Review Body listens to their concerns.
It has been calling on the Scottish Government to set up pay negotiating
structures directly with unions on pay and conditions in Scotland.
Tom Waterson, Chair of the
UNISON Health Committee said; “Today I am pleased to announce that 94% of
UNISON members have voted to accept a pay deal which will put an additional
£400m on the pay bill, delivering real increases of between 3 and 27% for NHS
workers in Scotland. This deal and it’s
strong endorsement by members makes it clear that we do not need to wait cap in
hand for the Pay Review Body and that the institution as it stands is dead in
the water. 18 months ago some people
said that we couldn’t negotiate a pay deal for NHS workers in Scotland. Then they said that we couldn’t negotiate a
better deal for Scotland. The Scottish
Government should commit now to develop negotiating structures in Scotland and
allow us to self determine on pay”.
UNISON Head of Health for
UNISON Scotland, Matt McLaughlin, said, “This is a good result for UNISON
members and I am happy that across Scotland we reached out to and engaged with
the vast majority of our members. Their
decision is ringing endorsement of the offer”.
Details of the deal:
- All NHS Scotland staff earning under £80,000
to receive a 3% pay increase backdated to 1st April 2018 with a
payment of £1600 for staff earning more than £80,000
- The top of all pay scales to rise by 9% over
the lifetime of the three-year deal (including 2018) or £1600 per annum for
scales above £80,000
- Larger increments and faster progression for
staff in post, but not yet at the top of their pay band – worth between 11.3%
and 27.7%
- Removal of band overlaps to ensure promotion
comes with a proper pay rise and to lessen the risk of equal pay challenges
- Big improvements in starting salaries to help
the NHS attract and retain new staff
- Applies to all NHS contractor staff