Mar 13 2007
UNISON has welcomed Scotland's decision to give nurses and health professionals the Pay Review Body annual rise in full from 1 April – and called for ministers south of the border to follow suit.
The Pay Review Body announced the 2.5% pay award earlier this month, but health secretary Patricia Hewitt announced that the government was splitting it, paying 1.5% from 1 April and a further 1% from November – meaning it was worth just 1.9% overall.
But her Scottish counterpart Andy Kerr said today that Scotland's nurses deserve the full 2.5% now – and NHS finances are on a firm footing in the country.
"We are delighted that the strong lobbying by Unison has borne fruit," commented UNISON Scotland health organiser Glyn Hawker.
"The minister has listened to health workers' concerns. This reflects the more effective and co-operative nature of the NHS in Scotland."
The union's UK head of health Karen Jennings added: "This decision should shame MPs in Westminster into taking action over the shabby way our nurses and health workers are being treated by the government in this pay round."