London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

Nurse strike threat continues after improved pay offer

Nurse strike threat continues after improved pay offer

Nursing unions have criticised an improved pay offer from the Scottish government, saying a strike vote will continue.

The proposed deal is for a flat rate of £2,205 per person, backdated to April.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said it was a real-terms pay cut and accused the government of not listening to staff concerns.

Ministers said the offer reflected the "hard work" of NHS staff and would help during the cost of living crisis.

The RCN had asked for at least 5% above inflation which rose to 10.1% in September.

The new offer means an average salary increase of 7% with the lowest paid gaining more than 11% and qualified nursing staff receiving up to 8.45%.

Other non-financial elements are still to be finalised.

RCN Scotland director, Colin Poolman, said: "The Scottish government has failed to listen to our members' concerns for the safety of their patients.

"This offer fails to recognise the clinical skill, expertise and leadership of registered nurses.

"It will do nothing to address the staffing crisis, the life-threatening delays we are seeing at emergency departments or the lengthy waiting lists for treatment across Scotland's NHS."

He said striking was a "last resort" but a real possibility and said the ballot would continue.

Staff have been protesting and calling for a better deal


Union chiefs at Unison said they would put the improved offer to members and would meet next week "to consider next steps".

Wilma Brown, chairwoman of the union's health committee, said: "Unison believe that a flat rate offer will help all staff meet at least some of the cost of living crisis.

"In the meantime, we are still urging all Unison members to vote for industrial action."

Alex MacKenzie of the council of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy welcomed the additional support for the lowest paid but said it was "simply a kick in the teeth to come back with an offer that is actually lower than the one already rejected for a substantial number of our members."

The Royal College of Midwives described the offer as "deeply insulting".

The pay deal, which amounts to £480m, would be paid to more than 160,000 employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals and healthcare support staff.


'Constructive discussions'


Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said he was grateful to trade union colleagues and NHS employers for constructive discussions on pay.

"This has been another exceptionally challenging year for our health service and we have a difficult winter ahead," he said.

"But I am pleased that we are able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare and support staff with this pay offer.

"We owe NHS staff a debt of gratitude for leading us through the greatest public health crisis in recent history.

"This improved pay offer - which is the largest of its kind since devolution - reflects their hard work and will go a long way to help them through the cost of living crisis."

Humza Yousaf thanked NHS staff for seeing the country through the pandemic


Opposition parties called for more action to address staffing issues.

Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "This SNP government does not understand the seriousness of the situation.

"As the RCN has said, Humza Yousaf is showing that he has no idea about the scale of the staffing crisis or about the impact that it will have on workers and the safety of patients."

Scottish Conservatives shadow social care minister Craig Hoy said: "Our NHS is already heading for a catastrophic winter due to Humza Yousaf's inaction and that will only worsen if these strikes go ahead.

"He must urgently get a grip of this situation and ensure our nurses get what they deserve for going above and beyond to support patients and our health service."

Lib Dem spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: "We need a new pay offer and a serious investment in workforce planning to fix the foundations of our NHS, alongside an urgent burnout strategy prevention plan to protect staff welfare.

"If we don't get that, we need a new health secretary."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×