Unions representing health service staff have accused the Scottish government of presiding over a ‘significant breakdown' in trust during pay negotiations.

A letter to the Health Secretary from NHS staff unions makes the claim after the Scottish government delayed pay negotiations and instead announced an interim 1% pay rise out of the blue.

Unions now say there are “serious questions” about the future of the relationship with government.

Around 154,000 staff would receive an interim pay rise backdated to the start of December, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman pledged late last month.

At the time Ms Freeman said there would “inevitably” be a delay to full negotiations until the summer because the UK budget, announced yesterday, had been pushed back.

Agenda for Change staff include all NHS nurses, paramedics, healthcare support staff and allied health professionals.

But the pay announcement came as a surprise to representatives from health trade unions on the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC).

They had raised concerns in February that little progress was being made on promised pay negotiations and rejected the idea of an interim payment.

The letter states this led to a “significant breakdown in the trust and respect between the Scottish government and the health trade unions.”

Mary Ross Davie, of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Scotland, said: This is an exceptionally poor attempt to delay proper negotiations on pay and NHS pay should be an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.

“The offer that has been made to our members is not substantial or reflective of what they deserve and is an offer that has not been negotiated with us.

“The Scottish Government agreed to negotiate this pay deal with the RCM and other NHS Unions in Scotland, but instead they have offered our members a payment without consultation.”

Colin Poolman, Chair of STAC and Royal College of Nursing Scotland Senior Officer, said: “For months now we’ve been told that that the Scottish government will do its best to give NHS staff the pay increase they deserve.

“Last week’s announcement that NHS staff on Agenda for Change will have to wait until the summer for negotiations to commence is unacceptable, even more so when you consider the efforts and sacrifices that they have made over the past year to keep the country safe.”

Willie Duffy, Staffside Secretary of STAC and Unison Regional Organiser, said: “We have worked hard to foster a positive relationship with government, one which we thought was built on mutual trust for the benefit of patients and NHS staff.

“The process that led to last week’s announcement has raised serious questions about the future of this relationship.

“We are requesting the decision to delay the beginning of negotiations until the summer be reviewed immediately.

“If the Scottish government is not in a position to do this, then the Cabinet Secretary needs to advise the trade unions now so we can consult our members on the next steps.”

Read more: NHS Pay rise described as ‘disappointing’; ‘Interim NHS pay rise announced; Government urged to back £15 an hour care wage; NHS staff to take pay protest to Parliament

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