Commenting on health unions’ acceptance of an above-inflation two-year pay offer from the Scottish government for NHS workers, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said today (Monday):
“Health workers in Scotland are reaping the rewards of a better pay process. Proper, direct pay talks have delivered an above-inflation, two-year deal, which comes with an inflation-proof guarantee.
“All being well, NHS staff in Scotland should get this year’s pay rise in their June pay packets. Staff elsewhere are still waiting. Seven weeks after their increase was due, they’ve not heard a dicky bird from the UK government.
“Ministers in Westminster need to take a leaf out of the Scottish government’s book. They must pull out all the stops so health workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland don’t have to go on waiting.
“The outdated, slow and costly pay review body process has to go, as unions have urged repeatedly, if the NHS is to ever get back into shape.
“As well as getting pay into pockets quicker, a multi-year deal means staff have more certainty and allows them to better plan their lives and finances.
“It also leads to better industrial relations, leaving everyone to focus on the many other challenges in the NHS, such as bringing down waiting times and improving patient care.
“As things stand many cleaners and porters in the NHS in Scotland earn at least £4,000 more than their equivalents elsewhere. Nurses can earn up to £5,000 more and for experienced paramedics the gap is £5,700.
“Ongoing delays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland mean health trusts and boards are unable to plan their budgets properly, which is bad news for patients too. Backlogs, waits and delays will never be sorted until pay is fixed.”
Notes to editors:
–The Scottish government offered health unions 4.25% for this year and 3.75% for 2026/27. It also includes an ‘inflation guarantee’, giving NHS staff in Scotland 1% above the CPI rate of inflation should that increase. UNISON Scotland announced on Thursday that members had voted in favour of accepting the offer.
–NHS workers across the UK should have received their 2025/26 annual wage rise on Tuesday 1 April. But this has been delayed as the Westminster government has opted to stick with the NHS pay review body process, instead of having direct talks with health unions. Delays to the 2025/25 pay increase have already forced an emergency intervention to boost wages for the lowest-paid NHS workers and avoid trusts being in breach of minimum wage laws.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article Health secretary should follow Scottish lead with direct pay talks first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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