1. Reduction in Weekly Hours: The standard working week will be reduced, providing employees with more personal time without compromising their roles and responsibilities. This reduction is aimed at reducing burnout and improving overall job satisfaction.
   
2. Flexible Implementation: The reduction in hours will be implemented in a flexible manner, allowing different departments and roles to adapt according to their specific needs. This ensures that operational efficiency is maintained while offering employees the benefits of reduced hours.
   
3. Equitable Adjustments: The adjustments in working hours have been agreed upon in partnership with employee representatives. This collaborative approach guarantees that the changes are fair and equitable across the board.
   
4. Updated Calculation Methods: New methods for calculating working hours have been introduced. These methods ensure transparency and accuracy, making it easier for employees to understand their schedules and any changes that may occur.
   
5. Comprehensive Q&A: An updated Q&A section is available to address any queries or concerns employees might have regarding the new guidelines. This resource provides detailed answers and clarifications, ensuring that everyone is well-informed about the changes.
   

UNISON Scotland, together with other unions, has submitted a joint pay claim to the Scottish government for all workers who are in the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system.

The pay claim is calling for negotiations to secure:

• An offer in which NHS AfC pay is uplifted by a cost of living element which fairly rewards our members in the current financial climate and seeks to resolve historic erosion of their pay
• A robust fully funded proposal to deliver on the areas of consensus previously identified in the AfC Pay Modernisation paper; which does not divert funding from the core pay quantum, during the lifetime of any implementation phase
• A commitment to further discuss those areas of AfC pay modernisation where consensus could not be reached.

You can read the full pay claim here.

What happens next?

Following months of delays, the Scottish government has agreed to open pay talks for Scotland’s health workers on July 31.

UNISON, together with other NHS unions, submitted its pay claim in February and says health workers are disappointed it has taken the Scottish government so long to respond.

In the past weeks, UNISON health members have sent more than 15,000 letters to MSPs from NHS workers calling for the Scottish government to open pay talks.

Matt McLaughlin, UNISON Scotland’s lead organiser for health, said:

“Despite submitting a pay claim at the beginning of the year, the Scottish government has dragged its heels and taken months to get around the table.

“NHS staff are rightly frustrated they have been left struggling with rising living costs while their calls for a fair pay rise are ignored.

“Health workers are the glue that holds the NHS together and the government has to recognise their hard work by putting NHS pay right.”

Non-pay reforms

There were ‘non pay’ reforms agreed as part of the 2023/24 pay deal. The Scottish government, unions and employers were tasked with bringing forward proposals for a review of band 5 nurses; to reduce the working week with no loss of pay; and to protect time for learning at work. We are disappointed that the Scottish government has not yet put forward proposals to implement these promised reforms.

UNISON, with other health unions, sent our proposals to the cabinet secretary for health, Michael Matheson MSP, in November. UNISON has been in regular contact with the cabinet secretary pressing him to publish an implementation strategy as soon as possible.

In mid-January, the cabinet secretary wrote to unions asking for an urgent meeting (read the full letter here). UNISON is always available to meet with government ministers and employers, however, the NHS unions have also written to the minister to make clear we expected him to publish an implementation plan without delay (read the full letter here).

It is not acceptable that the Scottish government has not published an implementation programme for the outstanding elements from the 2023/24 deal. We are clear the Scottish government needs to deliver on what’s been promised.

Get ready for the months ahead

Please look out for future information on these crucial issues. In the meantime you can help us to get ready for the months ahead:

• Make sure your details are up-to-date by logging in to My UNISON
• Keep in touch with your local UNISON branch
• Please fill out our safe staffing survey
• Ask your colleagues to join unison – we are stronger together

The Scottish NHS is at a crucial juncture, facing challenges that demand immediate attention and action. UNISON, Scotland's largest NHS trade union, has raised significant concerns about the impact of budget cuts on the quality and safety of healthcare services. The union's letter to the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health, and Social Care outlines these issues in detail, emphasizing the need for a constructive dialogue and immediate reforms.

Budget constraints have led to overspending accusations, but UNISON argues this is a misrepresentation of the underlying issue: chronic underfunding. The NHS in Scotland struggles to meet rising demand, and cost-cutting measures, such as the reduction of vacant posts and essential services like the staff shuttle bus in Lothian, exacerbate access and service delivery problems. These cuts not only affect patient care but also increase the workload and stress on existing staff, leading to a cycle of inefficiency and decreased morale among healthcare workers.

UNISON's letter highlights specific instances of concern, including the unilateral decision to cancel the staff shuttle bus in Lothian, disputes over cutting vacant posts in Glasgow, and the need to cut unfunded beds in NHS Ayrshire and Arran. These examples illustrate the broader issue of "right-sizing" the NHS—not through cuts but through informed, community-involved discussions about modernizing and adequately funding the service.

The letter concludes with a call to action, urging the Cabinet Secretary to engage with UNISON and other stakeholders to ensure that any reforms are patient-centered, adequately funded, and designed to sustainably improve the NHS in Scotland. It's a call for a balanced approach that respects the needs of both healthcare workers and the communities they serve.

As Scotland's NHS faces these critical challenges, it's clear that open dialogue, comprehensive planning, and a commitment to investment are essential. The health of the nation depends on it.