This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63748948

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
New pay offer made to NHS Scotland health workers New pay offer made to NHS Scotland health workers
(31 minutes later)
The Royal College of Nursing has voted to take strike actionThe Royal College of Nursing has voted to take strike action
An improved pay offer averaging 7.5% has been made to NHS Scotland health workers threatening industrial action.An improved pay offer averaging 7.5% has been made to NHS Scotland health workers threatening industrial action.
The Scottish government's £515m deal will now be considered by unions.The Scottish government's £515m deal will now be considered by unions.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf were involved in "extensive" talks ahead of this latest proposal.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf were involved in "extensive" talks ahead of this latest proposal.
Unite and GMB have suspended action by ambulance staff and confirmed that the offer will be put to members in a ballot. Unite and GMB have both suspended action by ambulance staff and confirmed that the offer will be put to members in a ballot.
Unite members from the Scottish Ambulance Service had planned a work-to-rule on Friday and 1,700 GMB members were scheduled to begin a 26-hour strike on Monday, Unite's Scottish Ambulance Service members had planned a work-to-rule on Friday and 1,700 GMB members were scheduled to begin a 26-hour strike on Monday.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and Unison had also backed strike action in the ongoing pay dispute.
The RCN, which had delayed a formal announcement on strikes while negotiations took place this week, confirmed that its board members would consider the detail of the latest offer.
Unison has recommended that members accept the deal.
Fresh talks to avert strike by NHS Scotland staffFresh talks to avert strike by NHS Scotland staff
Nurses in Scotland vote for strike actionNurses in Scotland vote for strike action
Yousaf warns strike action 'catastrophic' for NHSYousaf warns strike action 'catastrophic' for NHS
The Scottish government said it was a "record high pay offer" for front line workers. The RCN, which had delayed a formal announcement on strikes while negotiations took place this week, confirmed that its board members would consider the detail of at offer that "still does not meet our members' expectations".
It had asked for at least 5% above inflation, which is currently 11.1%.
However, the Scottish government said the new deal was a "record high pay offer" for front line workers.
Annual pay rises under the latest deal would range from a flat rate payment of £2,205 for staff in Bands 1 to 4 and up to £2,660 for staff in Bands 5 to 7, backdated to April.Annual pay rises under the latest deal would range from a flat rate payment of £2,205 for staff in Bands 1 to 4 and up to £2,660 for staff in Bands 5 to 7, backdated to April.
This represents an increase of 11.3% for the lowest paid workers and delivers an average uplift of 7.5%, a government spokesperson said.This represents an increase of 11.3% for the lowest paid workers and delivers an average uplift of 7.5%, a government spokesperson said.
Humza Yousaf said he hoped health workers would accept this "final" offer
Humza Yousaf said he hoped health workers would accept this "final" offer
The new offer also included a review into reducing the working week from 37.5 hours to 36 hours with no loss of pay.The new offer also included a review into reducing the working week from 37.5 hours to 36 hours with no loss of pay.
Mr Yousaf said no stone had been left unturned to reach its "best and final pay offer".Mr Yousaf said no stone had been left unturned to reach its "best and final pay offer".
He said: "We have made the best offer possible to get money into the pockets of hard working staff and to avoid industrial action, in what is already going to be an incredibly challenging winter."He said: "We have made the best offer possible to get money into the pockets of hard working staff and to avoid industrial action, in what is already going to be an incredibly challenging winter."
Wilma Brown, from Unison, said she recognised that the new package was the best that could have been negotiated. What are the unions saying?
She told the BBC: "The new package demonstrates that we are concerned about everybody's take-home pay these days and the professional groups have lost out a lot of money over the years during austerity and various other reasons and that this goes some way to starting to make that up. Royal College of Nursing - Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland director, said the offer was "disappointing" but their board would "consider the offer in the usual way".
"Is it enough? No, we would have wanted more, but we believe that this is the best deal that we will get through negotiation." Chartered Society of Physiotherapy - described the deal as an "encouraging forward step" and said a committee would consider their next move.
Wilma Brown of Unison: “Is it enough? No we would have wanted more but we believe that this is the best deal that we will get through negotiation.” Unison - recommended that members accept the deal. Wilma Brown, chair of the Scotland health committee, said she recognised that the new package was the best that could have been negotiated, but they would have wanted more.
Wilma Brown of Unison: “Is it enough? No we would have wanted more but we believe that this is the best deal that we will get through negotiation.” GMB - suspended a 26-hour ambulance strike and will put the new deal to members in a vote. Senior organiser Keir Greenaway said staff needed to be valued to "tackle the chronic understaffing crisis across NHS frontline services" after a decade of cuts and the Covid pandemic.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said staff needed to be valued to "tackle the chronic understaffing crisis across NHS frontline services" after a decade of cuts and the Covid pandemic. Unite - suspended work-to-rule action by ambulance staff and will put the new deal to members in a vote.
"The reality is this offer remains below inflation for the vast majority of staff, but it requires our members consultation given the additional monies tabled by the government," he added. There will be a huge sigh of relief that industrial action has been averted - for now.
The health service is already under severe pressure and any level of disruption would have both short and long term consequences. The health secretary has already described the impact of nurses, paramedics and other key healthcare workers walking out as "catastrophic".
But what does this offer mean?
Pay for NHS Agenda for Change staff - including nurses, ambulance workers, physiotherapists and healthcare assistants - is negotiated by the Scottish government and the various unions that represent them.
They all say that they will consider whether this new offer is enough money. Until then strikes are off.
For some, particularly the lower paid staff, this will be seen as a good deal and the government has found extra money to bump up the pay of those in the middle bands. The likes of a charge nurse will now be looking at around a 6% pay increase.
A review into reducing the working week to 36 hours as well as other well-being measures will also be a morale boost to those on the ground who feel undervalued as well as underpaid.
Of course this doesn't solve the long term problems of staffing for the NHS. One in 10 nursing and midwifery posts are unfilled. And we know demand continues to grow. Junior doctors are also continuing to press the government for an increase in their pay.