Largest NHS union votes to accept Scottish Government pay deal

Unison said 89 per cent of members who were balloted were in favour of the 5.5 per cent rise.

Members of the largest trade union in the NHS have voted to accept the pay deal on offer from Scottish ministers.

Unison said 89 per cent of members who were balloted were in favour of the 5.5 per cent rise – which is in line with the deal offered to staff south of the border.

With public finances under severe pressure, the union stressed the offer was the “best deal currently possible”.

But it warned ministers against “complacency”, saying going forward the Scottish Government needs to be “far better at dealing with the annual pay round”.

Unison represents about 40,000 NHS workers across NHS Scotland.

Unison Scotland lead organiser for health Matt McLaughlin said: “There’s considerable anger that it’s taken 200 days to get an offer on the table and hard-working staff won’t see a bump in their pay until at least the end of October.”

Unison is the second major union to accept the pay deal, with Unite members already having voted in favour.

With the package worth £448 million, Unite said the lowest paid workers will receive a £1,278 salary increase, and a new hourly rate of £12.71.

If formally accepted, almost 170,000 NHS employees, including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters and others, will benefit from the rise, which would be backdated to April.

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McLaughlin stated: “Unison represents almost two fifths of NHS workers and has secured the best deal currently possible.

“But acceptance of this offer should not lead to complacency from the Scottish Government.

“If ministers are serious about recognising and rewarding NHS staff for the incredible job they do, they need to be far better at dealing with the annual pay round.”

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