NHS workers can expect ‘significantly improved’ pay offer, vows Yousaf

The Health Secretary has said he will make a “significantly improved” pay offer for NHS workers when he next meets trade unions.

Humza Yousaf said he will do everything in his power to prevent industrial action after the 5% pay increase offered by the Scottish Government was rejected.

Unison began balloting more than 50,000 health workers on strike action on Monday, recommending that members vote for walkouts, while the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland opened its ballot last month.

The Royal College of Nursing will begin balloting its members in Scotland on Thursday, while Unite is also due to ask its members if they are prepared to take strike action.

Mr Yousaf said he will be talking to trade unions and hopes that strike action can be avoided.

He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “We will be recommencing negotiations with the Agenda for Change trade unions, including those that represent the nursing staff.

“The Government came forward with a 5% pay deal which was a record high pay deal, I understand why trade unions are asking for a pay deal that is closer to inflation – because of the UK Government’s economic mismanagement inflation is through the roof.

“But equally I have to present an improved offer, I accept that, but one that is within the financial envelope, that I don’t have to take money away from cancer services or mental health services.

“I will be doing everything in my power to prevent industrial action from taking place, which includes in our next meeting with trade unions coming forward with a significantly improved pay offer for them.”

Last month, strikes by council workers were suspended after unions received a new pay offer from local authority leaders.

The offer, providing £1,900 extra for staff earning less than £39,000 per year, came after strike action by waste workers saw piles of rubbish build up in city centres.

Asked whether a deal close to 10% could be offered to nurses, Mr Yousaf told the programme: “I think it’s fair to look at what we’ve offered other sectors, including local government, and say is that roughly where you want to get to or a similar package for other public sector workers.

“I’m not going to negotiate through the airwaves here with you but I have said to the trade unions in my conversations with them already – although I’m disappointed that their members have rejected – I accept fully that they have a mandate from their members to reject that offer and therefore they can expect a significantly improved offer when we next sit round the table, planned for next week.”

Unison Scotland’s head of health Matt McLaughlin said: “Unison members will welcome the commitment to meet and discuss the claim we submitted more than six months ago.

“They will also be keen to see if the minister’s interpretation of ‘significant’ is the same as theirs.

“However, I am sure that they will be furious that the minister thinks they can be emotionally blackmailed with a threat to cuts in cancer services and mental health provision.

“Unison members work across the NHS in every discipline and every community, they see first-hand the impact that failing governments have on people; their health and NHS services.

“For the Scottish Government to suggest that a pay offer might be contingent on cost to life-saving services is a very low blow.”

Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland director, said: “We have been calling for a return to the negotiating table since the summer when our members rejected the Scottish Government’s offer. It shouldn’t have taken the commencement of our strike ballot to reach this point.

“The Cabinet Secretary has recognised that a significantly improved pay offer is required. Paying nursing staff fairly to recognise their safety-critical role is a political choice. Another real-terms pay cut will not retain and recruit the nursing workforce Scotland needs.

“To suggest to nursing staff that fair pay should come at the expense of key services such as cancer and mental health provision is insulting both to our members and the people of Scotland, who recognise that these services are already understaffed and relying on the goodwill of nursing staff to keep going.

“The Scottish Government needs to face up to the reality that their failure to focus on workforce planning and to value those working in health and social care is the root cause of the staffing crisis we face.”