NHS staff in Scotland have been offered a 9% pay deal.
The proposed deal, which is being considered by healthcare unions, would see a 9% rise over three years for around 147,000 staff NHS staff who earn under £80,000 a year. Those staff earning above £80,000 will be given a flat-rate increase of £1,600 a year.
The deal would see the basic pay of a newly qualified staff nurse rise by £2058 to £24459.
Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics and allied healthcare professionals are just some of who would benefit from the deal. Doctors, dentists and senior managers not under agenda for change will be exempt.
Healthcare unions will consultant their members on the deal until the 15th of August.
The Scottish government said the proposals would mean that by 2021 NHS Scotland staff would be significantly better paid than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.
The deal comes only weeks after healthcare unions in England voted “overwhelming” to accept a 6.% rise over three years.
Our NHS is built on the hard work of staff.
Announcing the deal, Health Secretary Shona Robison, said: “Our NHS is built on the dedication and hard work of healthcare staff up and down the country.
“They are our health service’s beating heart, and I’m proud to be offering them this significant pay rise in recognition for the work they do caring for the people of Scotland.
“We were the first government in the UK to lift the pay cap, and today I can confirm we intend to deliver a pay rise of at least 9 percent to our hardworking NHS ‘Agenda for Change’ staff over the next three years.
“We’re doing all we can to recruit new talent and retain existing staff, ensuring NHS Scotland has the right skills and experience to meet future demand and rising expectations. Today’s announcement will help make our NHS an attractive employment option for many.
“In this 70th anniversary year I am delighted that we have been able to offer NHS Scotland staff a pay settlement which not only matches NHS England deal – but exceeds it.”
This is the best possible deal.
Theresa Fyffe, RCN Scotland Director, said; “This is the largest pay rise offered to nurses in 10 years and we believe it is the best deal that can be achieved through negotiation at this time.
“It has been a long road to get to this point. Over a year ago we launched the “Scrap the Cap” campaign which paved the way for these negotiations. It’s a success story that shows how our members can have an impact on the government economic policy.
“It is now time for members to make up their own minds on whether to accept it or reject it.”
Emma Currer, the Royal College of Midwives Scotland Lead Negotiator, said: “This is a good deal for our midwife and maternity support worker members. It will see them getting a real increase in their pay across all the pay bands after years of pay freezes and stagnation.
“This is something the RCM and other unions have been fighting for. This is a good deal and one that we believe is the best that can be achieved in the current economic climate.
“However, we also see this as the starting point for better pay for NHS staff, not the end point. We will be opening a consultation with our members on this very soon. I would encourage members to respond to this and it is a deal that I encourage our members to accept.”
Concerns come after England saw a very poor voting turnout during the consultation period of their proposed pay deal.
