UNISON has called for the Scottish health secretary Neil Gray to start NHS pay talks before April or face potential strike action.
The country’s biggest health union made the ultimatum in a letter to Mr. Gray yesterday, asserting that if adequate progress on reaching an acceptable offer is not made by that date, they will start a consultative ballot for strike action over pay.
UNISON has said it will recommend a yes vote to move towards industrial action amid claims that NHS staff are already angry that the Scottish Government has ditched plans to reduce the working week for this year, and are still waiting for pay talks to begin.
The union added that with parliament having passed the Scottish budget, there are no further barriers to stop the health secretary getting round the table with unions.
The union represents over 60,000 NHS staff in Scotland including nurses, midwives, call handlers, paramedics, administrators, allied professional staff, caterers, porters and facilities
UNISON and other unions submitted their pay claim for NHS workers on 21 January 2024, with no date having yet been set for pay talks – whilst the annual NHS cost of living pay increase is due on 1 April.
UNISON Scotland co-lead for health Matt McLaughlin said: “The health secretary must come to the table with a credible pay offer without further delay, as anger is growing amongst NHS staff.
“The government says it values NHS workers. But once again ministers are late starting pay talks and have already ditched an agreement to reduce the working week this year.
“Staff feel like they’ve been left high and dry. Unless talks start soon, UNISON will have no choice but to start a consultative strike ballot.
“The Scottish budget process has just finished, so Neil Gray has no more excuses.
“If the health secretary fails to deliver on pay, staff will lose any remaining trust they had in him.
“Any remaining staff goodwill will quickly evaporate, making NHS reform, more difficult.”
