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Union pushes for NHS pay talks


By PA News



Minister for Health and Social Care Neil Gray (PA)

A union is pushing for NHS pay talks in Scotland to begin before April.

Unison, which represents more than 60,000 NHS staff in Scotland, made the demand in a letter sent to Health Secretary Neil Gray on Tuesday.

The union says if he has not made adequate progress on reaching an acceptable offer by April, it will start a consultative ballot for strike action.

Unison says NHS workers are already angry the Scottish Government has ditched plans to reduce the working week for this year.

If the Health Secretary fails to deliver on pay, staff will lose any remaining trust they had in him
Matt McLaughlin, Unison

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.”

Mr Gray said: “I meet with trade unions on a regular basis, and most recently met with Unison on February 18.

“At this meeting we discussed pay, and I informed them that we will seek to enter pay negotiations to secure a pay deal for 2025/26 as soon as practically possible.”

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