GMB Members Reject NHS Scotland Unfair And Unequal Pay Offer
GMB members overwhelmingly reject NHS Scotland ‘unfair and unequal’ pay offer – but deal looks set for implementation
GMB Scotland has today (Friday 17 August) said it won’t stay silent on the facts surrounding the Scottish Government’s ‘unfair and unequal’ pay offer, which is now set to be implemented across NHS Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).
In a comprehensive return following a six week consultative ballot, 98 per cent of members in the NHS and SAS voted to reject the Scottish Government’s three year pay offer of 3 per cent (2018), 2.7 per cent (2019) and 2.6 per cent (2020).
The offer, which commits staff to agree to as yet undefined reforms to their terms and conditions during the three year period, proposed the percentage increases for grades up to £80,000 a year and flat cash increases of £1,600 for grades above £80,000 a year.
However, the offer was accepted by other NHS Scotland trade unions following a meeting of the NHS Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC) in Glasgow this afternoon.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said: “We said from the outset this offer was unfair and unequal, and while it is very disappointing this offer will be implemented, we won’t be silent on the facts.
We campaigned for an above inflation offer and measures to tackle a decade of cuts. The truth is that 3 per cent, 2.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent does not equal 9 per cent, nor does it begin to match the cost of living.
The interlinked elements of this offer also mean that staff across the NHS particularly the lowest paid, are like sitting ducks for further cuts to their terms and conditions of employment.
Fundamentally, we just don’t believe it’s credible to tell hospital cleaners, porters and nurses that health board chief executives on six figure salaries will get a bigger pay increase than they will.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy on 07912 560806 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.
