Scotland’s First Minister pledged to renegotiate the deal as soon as possible.
Unison has announced it will hold a consultative ballot on industrial action after pay talks with the Scottish government break down.
The union is calling for the final year of a three-year NHS pay deal to be renegotiated in light of the global pandemic and the devastating impact it has had on NHS workers.
Earlier this year First Minister Nicola Sturgeon publically pledged to renegotiate the deal as soon as possible.
The union is also calling for a £2,000 pay rise for all its members going forward.
Pay talks in England are yet to start but a recent warning from the government of ‘public sector pay restraint’ going forward may prove to hamper efforts.
Failed to deliver.
UNISON’s head of health Willie Duffy said: “UNISON members are disappointed and angry that the Scottish government has failed to deliver on pay for NHS workers this year – despite assurances from both the Scottish Health Secretary and the First Minister.
“They are happy to praise our NHS workers and offer warm words on pay but are unable to back that up by putting money into the pockets of our hard-working and devoted NHS staff.
“The last thing our members want to do at this time is disrupt NHS services, but more than a month on from our talks with Health Secretary Jeane Freeman we are no further forward.
“The Scottish government has failed to deliver on pay for our NHS workers and we feel we have been left with no other choice.”
Expedite negotiations.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government denied that talks had broken down.
They said; “The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to delivering the fairest pay deal possible for health staff. It is disappointing to hear that Unison intend to proceed with a vote on a consultative ballot before negotiations have even begun.
“Talks have not broken down and we remain in active discussions with all parties, and have been meeting frequently to conclude a negotiating mandate in order that a formal pay negotiation can begin.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Health has reaffirmed her commitment to expedite negotiations and to consider bringing forward the agreed pay settlement to an earlier juncture if it is possible to conclude negotiations before the start of the new financial year.”
