Nurses set to vote on government’s ‘best and final’ pay offer
Posted 30 November 2022 - 14:44
RCN Scotland members have between 5 and 19 December to let the college know their position on pay offer, but won’t make recommendations on how to vote
Nurses in Scotland are set to vote on the government’s ‘best and final’ pay offer put forward last week.
RCN Scotland members will have from December 5 to December 19 to let the college know their position on the pay offer. The RCN is not making a recommendation to members on how to vote.
It comes as the Scottish Government announced a pay rise of between £2,205 and £2,751 for all NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts. Ministers say the ‘record’ offer represents an uplift of around 8.7% for nurses, 11.3% for the lowest-paid staff and will be backdated to April.
‘None of the offers made to date do enough to attract more people into nursing and to keep the skilled nurses we already have’
Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland board chair
Offer still represents a real-terms pay cut for nurses, says RCN
It is the third offer put on the table this year after RCN members voted overwhelmingly to reject the initial 5% offer.
RCN Scotland board chair Julie Lamberth said the offer still represents a real-terms pay cut for nurses.
‘None of the offers made to date do enough to attract more people into nursing and to keep the skilled nurses we already have,’ she said.
‘It is right that our members have the opportunity to have their say on what the Scottish government says is its ‘best and final’ offer. If our members vote to reject the offer, the RCN will act on the clear mandate for strike action voted for by members in Scotland.’
RCN Scotland director Colin Poolman urged members to check their employer, place of work and contact details are up to date to ensure they receive the relevant information about the pay offer.
‘We are making this offer at a time of extraordinary financial challenges’ – health minister
The Holyrood government said the new deal is worth an additional £515 million in 2022-23, and includes a measures to address workforce sustainability and staff and patient safety.
Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: ‘We are making this offer at a time of extraordinary financial challenges to the Scottish government.
‘We have made the best offer possible to get money into the pockets of hard-working staff and to avoid industrial action.’
Nursing colleagues in the rest of the UK are preparing to undertake the first nursing strike in the RCN’s 106-year history.
Nurses at almost 80 trusts and integrated care boards will take to picket lines on 15 and 20 December.
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