Health service workers have been demonstrating outside the Scottish Parliament to call on government to award all staff a pay increase before Christmas.

A fortnight ago UNISON – one of Scotland’s largest trade unions – said it would consult staff over possible strike action in response to what it has called the Scottish government’s “failure” to deliver on pay for NHS workers this year.

Speaking outside Holyrood today as demonstrators gathered, Tracy Anne Miller, secretary of UNISON Lothian health branch said workers are angry their demands seem to be falling on deaf ears.

“What is angering us most is that the Health Secretary actually agreed to a re-opener clause and said she would give us something this year, before Christmas, and I think what is upsetting us more than anything is that despite repeated letters to her, she either doesn’t respond or says she wants to enter early negotiations for next year,” explains Ms Millar.

“But we want something for our members this year – the pandemic is this year. The staff have worked hard and deserve something this year.

“UNISON are demanding a flat rate pay increase for every member, regardless of their job role – cleaners, porters, nursing staff – absolutely every single person in the NHS that has worked through the pandemic.”

Asked today about pay for NHS staff during First Minister’s Question, Nicola Sturgeon said: “We are absolutely committed to delivering a fair pay deal for staff in the next financial year and fairness in this context will mean something different to what it would mean pre-covid.

“So I’m absolutely committed to doing that. But I’m also committed to doing it, which I know a trade unionist would be too, to doing that through negotiation with health service unions. We have a negotiation that is underway.

The First Minister added: “We want, if we possibly can, to expedite these negotiations and if possible bring forward the agreed pay settlement so that we can perhaps conclude the matter before the start of the financial year.

“Of course, NHS Scotland staff going into covid were, and remain, the best paid anywhere in the United Kingdom. Rightly so. But we all recognise, and I particularly recognise the debt of gratitude we owe to people in the NHS and social care and we intend that that debt of gratitude is repaid, not just in words but in practice as well.”

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