Members of the Society of Radiographers in Scotland have voted to accept the Scottish Government’s pay offer for 2024/25.
A consultation of SoR members returned an “overwhelming” 94 per cent vote in favour, on a 43 per cent turnout.
The offer – a flat rate, across the board 5.5 per cent pay rise effective from 1 April – will start in October, with back pay elements included in the November payroll.
'The best that can be achieved'
NHS Agenda for Change pay scales cover a majority of NHS staff, including radiographers, with the exclusion of doctors, dentists and very senior managers.
The SoR’s STAC negotiators last month called this offer, “the best that can be achieved through negotiation”.
They added: "It is therefore the informed belief of your National Officer, the Scottish Representatives’ Forum and of Scottish Council and UK Council that this offer represents the best that can be achieved via negotiation and in the current circumstances."
'Backbone of the NHS'
Approval has now been reported to the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee staff side, and the Secretariat will shortly report the collective result to the Scottish Government.
Scottish health secretary Neil Gray said: “I am pleased that trade unions have unanimously agreed to accept this pay offer, which ensures that nurses and healthcare staff in Scotland, who are part of Agenda for Change, will have the best reward package in the UK.
“I want to express my thanks again to Scotland’s hardworking healthcare staff for the care they provide to patients, day in, day out. They are the very backbone of the NHS and we are committed to ensuring they feel supported and valued.”
Arrears and back pay
Options to have the arrears associated with backdating the uplift to 1 April 2024 paid in three monthly/13 weekly instalments are on offer, in order to prevent large lump sums from interfering with e.g. Universal Credit payments.
Any who wish to receive their payments this way should make use of the form available to download on the STAC website.
The offer was made on 20 August, the Society's Scottish Representatives' Forum and members of the SoR Scottish Council met on 27 August to discuss the pay award.
(Image: Scottish health secretary Neil Gray)