20.08.18
Unions back three-year pay increase for NHS Scotland staff
Medical staff in Scotland are set to receive a minimum pay rise of 9% over the next three years after a new deal was backed by workforce unions.
Following the announcement of the offering of a pay rise at the end of June, 147,000 NHS staff including nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, and paramedics will receive the cash boost after the proposals were voted overwhelmingly in favour of by the unions on Friday.
The offer will provide the pay rise to ‘Agenda for Change’ staff only, and will not apply to doctors, dentists, or senior managers.
Unions such as Unison, Unite, and the Royal College of Midwives accepted the offer. The GMB union rejected the plans but will go ahead with it after the considerable support from other unions.
Unison Scotland health committee chair Thomas Waterson said he the decision from the union members was a “ringing endorsement” of the offer, highlighting that 94% of members voted to accept the deal.
He added: “The pay deal will put an additional £400m into NHS workers pay packets in Scotland. I am happy that across Scotland we reached out to and engaged with the vast majority of our members.”
The plans will allow NHS Scotland staff earning less than £80,000 will receive a 3% pay increase this year backdated to 1 April, with a payment of £1,600 for staff earning more than £80,000.
The top of all pay scales will rise by 9% over the lifetime of the three-year deal (including 2018) or by £1,600 a year for scales above £80,000.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: "This rise— which is linked to a commitment to reform some terms and conditions— will be up to 27% for some staff.
"This pay rise can help recruitment and retention and ensure that our NHS remains an attractive employment option for many."
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Image credit: Andrew J Shearer