Glasgow nurses could go on strike over pay dispute

Trade Unions are preparing to ballot "demoralised" members over a row with the health board over pay for district nurses, the Daily Record reports. 

District nurses visit people in their own homes or in residential care settings and are currently on Band 6 of the pay scale, but they believe this does not match their skills or workload. 

Staff in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), UNISON and GMB trade unions are now ready to move to a vote on industrial action over a standoff with the board.

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Barbara Sweeney of the RCN in Scotland, told the Daily Record: "We are considering all the options available including the possibility of asking our members if they would be willing to take industrial action."

She continued: "NHSGGC and the six health and social care partnerships have let down their district nursing teams, and in doing so are letting down patients.

“They have failed to follow nationally agreed job evaluation processes and have left this vital group of staff feeling ignored, undervalued and demoralised."

Matt McLaughlin, head of health at UNISON said: "UNISON’s District Nurse members have had enough of NHS Glasgow’s refusal to evaluate their jobs fairly and within the rules of the accredited job evaluation scheme for this job which was initially accepted as having changed in 2022."

He added: “UNISON is now conducting a consultative ballot for industrial action. NHS Glasgow and Clyde should be clear - our next step is a formal strike ballot."

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An NHSGGC spokesperson says they "deeply value" the work of district nurses and understand frustration around the job evaluation process. 

They said: "We acknowledge the exceptional care that our district nursing teams provide every day.

"They are a vital part of our health service and play a crucial role in supporting patient care and flow throughout the healthcare system in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

"We deeply value their dedication and the difference they make in our communities.

"We also appreciate and understand the frustration that has arisen from the length of time it has taken to progress the job evaluation process.

"This has been a complex matter, and we recognise the impact that the process to date has had on staff morale.

"To help bring this to a conclusion as quickly and effectively as possible, we recently undertook a rapid review of the process to date and sought expert advice to ensure we are taking the right steps forward.

"We are committed to working closely with our staff-side colleagues to move this forward and to keep our nursing teams informed throughout.

"We thank our district nurses for their continued professionalism and patience.

"We remain focused on reaching a conclusion without further delay."