Vote to REJECT NHS Pay Offer
UNISON’s Health consultative opened on Monday 11 July. UNISON members are being balloted on a final Scottish Government pay offer. Ballot closes 5pm Monday 8 August.
The ballot asks 2 questions:
Do you want to accept or reject this pay offer?
Are you willing to take industrial action up to and including strike action to get an improved pay offer?
UNISON recommends you vote REJECT and to indicate that you are willing to take strike action. However, even if you want to vote to ACCEPT, please vote. It is UNISON members who will decide.
See press release of ballot launch
You can only vote with your unique ballot
If you are a UNISON member, a health worker AND we have an up to date email for you, you will receive an unique ballot email with a voting link. You can only vote with this unique ballot email.
If you are a UNISON member and have not received ballot email please check your SPAM email folder. If its not there – it’s because we do not have up to date email for you. If so, please call: 0800 0 857 857 and speak to UNISON direct who can help you.
Join UNISON before 26 July to vote.
If you are not a UNISON member you can still vote by joining before 26 July: joinunison.org
We will send you an email on 1 August. The ballot closes 5pm 8 August.
The Pay Offer from the Scottish Government
UNISON negotiators received a formal final offer from Scottish Government and NHS Employers on pay for 2022/23. Read the full offer here
It has 2 essential elements:
£10.50 pay floor (minimum rate) for NHS workers in Scotland
5% on all Agenda for Change pay grades, allowances and salaries.
UNISON, along with other health unions, asked for an above inflation pay award. We had also sought to look at other aspects of working in the NHS which have an impact on take home pay such as ensure banding outcomes reflect job content; reward additional hours fairly; prevent burnout by limiting excess hours; support progression and career development and encourage NHS Scotland employers to use recruitment & retention premia (RRP) to recruit and retain staff where shortages are a risk to staff wellbeing and quality of car
Why VOTE reject?
Your UNISON health committee is recommending you vote to REJECT the pay offer because:
The offer is well below inflation, which is nearly 10%
Highest paid staff will receive a rise worth £5,523 per year the lower paid will get £1,080. This is unfair.
We need a pay deal that fairly rewards all NHS staff. Everyone should be able to pay their bills without worrying.
Let’s send a strong message to government.
What if I have other questions?
Please read this FAQ sheet, which should help.
If you still have questions you can call your local UNISON health branch
UNISON local campaign action
Your local UNISON health branches will also be holding member meetings and local stewards will be coming to your workplaces to discuss pay offer and answer questions.
While UNISON is recommending you REJECT this pay deal. We genuinely need to hear your views.
Finally, your UNISON health committee – which is made up of your locally elected health activists from all UNISON NHS branches – are meeting regularly to discuss your feedback
Wilma Brown, Chair of Scottish Health Committee said:
“The offer does not meet our claim and is significantly less that the current level of inflation. Our members will want to know how some NHS staff can receive a rise worth £5,523 per year whist hard working domestics, porters, nursing assistants and others are only deemed to be worth £1,080 to help pay their bills.
In responding to the offer UNISON have made it clear to Government that our members will be angry and are likely to reject the offer. Having received the employers final offer, we will now consult with members and I would urge our members to look out for information and ballot papers in the next few weeks.”
What you can do to support the campaign
Talk about pay with your colleagues
Make sure your contact details are up to date – call 0800 0857 857
Recruit friends and colleagues: https://join.unison.org.uk/
Look out for your UNISON Ballot email and VOTE before 8 August.
Contact your local branch and ask them how you can help our campaign to Put NHS Pay Right