Health workers at Scotland's largest NHS union vote to accept NHS pay offer

12th May 2021

Health workers at Scotland's largest NHS union vote to accept NHS pay offer, says UNISON Scotland.

UNISON members have voted overwhelmingly to accept the NHS pay offer, which will see the majority of NHS workers receive a 4% pay increase.

UNISON, Scotland's largest NHS union, announced the result of its ballot today (Wednesday) and says it will now be calling on the new cabinet secretary for health to implement the pay deal as soon as possible.

Responding to the vote, UNISON's head of health Willie Duffy, said: "This pay rise represents a fair increase for our members and means the majority of our NHS staff will receive a pay increase of at least 4%, which will be backdated to December.

"The fact that 84% of those who took part in the ballot voted in favour of the pay offer shows how much this pay increase means to our members. Scotland's health workers go above and beyond to keep our NHS services running - not just during the pandemic but each and every day - and we're delighted to have secured them a fair pay increase."

Tam Waterson, chair of UNISON's health committee, said: "Through our negotiating and campaigning, UNISON managed to bring talks with the Scottish Government forward from June to March. We negotiated a fair offer that is weighted towards the lowest paid workers in the NHS.

"UNISON Scotland's health committee recommended acceptance of this pay offer and our members overwhelmingly agreed. We will now be writing to the new health secretary to ask that the pay deal is implemented without delay."