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Holyrood opinion poll

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Sturgeon implements NHS staff pay rise Print E-mail
Tuesday, 12 June 2007

NHS staff are to receive a 2.5 per cent pay rise next month following action by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon to implement the Pay Review body’s recommendations.

She told Scottish NHS staff at a conference in Glasgow that the increase would be included in July's pay packets, backdated to April 1.

She said: “When I took up my post, I was concerned to find that the 2.5 per cent unstaged pay award - recommended by the Pay Review body and agreed by the previous administration - had not been implemented.

“I am aware that there are continuing discussions at a UK level in relation to staff covered by the Pay Negotiating Council. However, I wrote to unions confirming my intention to honour the commitment to a 2.5 per cent unstaged award and to express my desire to see the money in pay packets as soon as possible.

“It is clear from responses that I have received that there is a need to effect a balance between the natural desire of unions to ensure that their members receive agreed pay rises as soon as is practically possible, and the need to take account of the fact that there are still unresolved pay discussions affecting a significant number of NHS Scotland staff at UK level.

“Taking all of these factors into account, I have decided that I will issue the pay circulars to enable the pay uplift to be made in July. I hope that this decision demonstrates that I greatly value the commitment, dedication and professionalism of NHS Scotland staff."

However, Glyn Hawker, aScottish organiser for UNISON, Scotland’s largest health care union, warned that a unilateral decision to implement pay for health service staff in July could cut across negotiations that the Executive were involved in and risked valuing sections of the healthcare team more than others.

Hawker said: “Whilst we are obviously keen to implement a pay increase as soon as possible, the current pay offer and award is not sufficient for us to agree. The Scottish Executive is party to the UK NHS negotiations and pay review body and the unions have already made it clear in that forum that we need an improved offer. It would also be unfair to pay one set of NHS staff ahead of others.

“Any attempt to unilaterally impose a disputed pay deal would send out the wrong signals to NHS staff in Scotland. Employers could resolve this dispute with an improved offer, and we will be pursuing this in the next weeks.”

Sturgeon added that tackling health inequalities in Scotland's most disadvantaged communities would be at the forefront of the Scottish government's health improvement agenda over the coming months, with alcohol a key focus for action.

"We need a renewed emphasis on the burden alcohol places not only on our health service, but on our country as a whole. While we can welcome the falling numbers of people developing lung cancer, the rising incidence of liver disease highlights the grip alcohol has over many people.

"The smoking ban will have a positive effect, and sets the right tone for what we want to achieve. But it is time to intensify that approach and change the drinking culture prevalent across Scotland.

"Changing attitudes to alcohol will be a long term campaign. A campaign we will need to enforce. A campaign I hope the health service, politicians and the drinks industry will join us in fighting."
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 June 2007 )
 
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