JUNIOR doctors in Scotland have been offered a 14.5% pay rise over the two-year period 2022-24, following negotiations with BMA Scotland.
The Scottish Government said the new offer represents a £61.3 million investment in their pay – the largest in 20 years and the best offer in the UK.
It said that if accepted, the new and final offer will be a pay raise of 6.5% in 2023/24, as well as an additional 3% towards an already agreed 4.5% uplift in 2022/23.
This amounts to a cumulative increase of 14.5% over two years and matches the recent pay award accepted by nurses and other NHS workers in 2023, it said.
It comes after junior doctors north of the border voted to strike for 72 hours in what would be their first national walkout over pay.
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Scotland’s Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: “After weeks of intense negotiations I’m delighted our government and BMA Scotland have come to an agreement on pay which they will now put to their members.
“Recognising the incredible work that junior doctors do, we have offered a fair and progressive rise which will mean a pay increase of 14.5% over two years – the best offer on the table in the UK.
“We have taken their concerns regarding pay, and the need to modernise pay bargaining more broadly, extremely seriously.
“It’s now up to junior doctors to reflect on this final offer, and I hope they will accept.”
BMA Scotland said that it will put the pay offer made by the Scottish Government to its junior doctor members in a consultative vote.
Scottish junior doctor committee chair, Dr Chris Smith, said: “We have approached the negotiations with the Scottish Government in good faith and, now that a final offer has been made, it is right that the junior doctors in Scotland have their say on what has been put on the table.
“To be clear, this is not a deal we have agreed, and we have not accepted any offer.
“However, the offer that has been made is without doubt an improvement on the 4.5% awarded last year, and the improved offer for 22/23 would represent a slowdown in doctors’ pay erosion, which had accelerated up to this point after 15 years of real terms decline.
“Our commitment to the long-term aim of righting that historical wrong remains firmly in place and will continue to be a top priority going forwards.
“We feel this offer reflects the best that the Scottish Government will offer after this series of negotiations. This is why it is essential our members decide our next steps.”
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