SCOTLAND’S largest public services union has urged members to accept the SNP government’s pay offer to health workers, warning the alternative is “sustained and substantial” industrial action. 

Unison announced yesterday that it believed members should accept the pay deal negotiated early this year, which will see an uplift of at least 4 per cent for the majority of NHS staff, backdated to December 2020.

A ballot for members will open this week and close on May 5, with Unison claiming “this is the best offer that can be achieved through negotiation.”

The move comes after both the Royal College of Nursing and GMB recommended to their members to reject the deal.

In a statement online, Unison Scotland said: “This offer is substantially higher than public-sector pay deals achieved recently. 

“There can be no more negotiations until a new government is in place after the election in May.

“Sustained and substantial industrial action would be required to bring the new government back to the table after the election.”