A leading health union is calling on the Scottish Government to tackle the current crisis in the nursing workforce ahead of the Budget later today.
25.11.2022 - 16:29 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Nicola Sturgeon has claimed the Scottish Government is doing "everything" they can to offer public sector workers a fair pay deal.
The First Minister addressed the Poverty Alliance Conference in Glasgow a day after thousands of teachers across the country walked out for first national strike in almost 40 years on Thursday.
Thousands of striking teachers held a rally outside the Scottish Parliament to push for an improved pay offer after rejecting a proposal of 6.85 per cent for those on the lowest salaries - while those earning more would get 5 per cent.
Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has said the 10 per cent pay claim being sought by the unions is "unaffordable" without cuts elsewhere.
Speaking at the conference earlier today Sturgeon: "Pay and how much people get paid for the work that they do is absolutely crucial in addressing poverty, lifting people out of poverty and giving people a decent standard of living.
"That's why we are doing everything we can right now to support fair public sector pay settlements. Paying higher wages is the biggest contribution we can make to help households with soaring costs.
"It also helps government and people who get paid more pay more taxes, more taxes means more revenue to government. It is a virtuous cycle, which is why in the emergency budget review we reprioritised £700 million to support the fairest possible pay deal.
"Trade unions are rightly demanding the best for their members. But the benefit of that today is that as nurses announce strike dates in England their union here in Scotland has a new and improved pay deal to consider.
"So that's the benefit of prioritising the things that matter most to people."
The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA)
A leading health union is calling on the Scottish Government to tackle the current crisis in the nursing workforce ahead of the Budget later today.
Paolo Nutini declared his love for Nicola Sturgeon during Tuesday night's show in Glasgow.
SNP chief executive Peter Murrell lent the party over £100,000 to help with “cashflow” after the Holyrood election.
Stephen Flynnhas called on Rishi Sunak to "see the error of his ways and follow the Scottish Government's lead" on dealing with public-sector strikes.
A charity for rape victims has warned of “catastrophic” job losses unless “critical” Scottish Government funding is extended. Rape Crisis Scotland sounded the alarm after a grant which had slashed waiting lists ended.
The Scottish Government’s tax decisions will continue to follow its “progressive” model that those with the broadest shoulders should pay more, a minister has said.
Thousands of Scottish postal workers are taking a further day of strike action today after talks between union representatives and Royal Mail reached a standstill. Around 11,000 members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) are embroiled in an increasingly bitter dispute over pay and working conditions with the postal service, with little sign of resolve.
The Scottish Government has been accused of trying to force through a gender reform law before Christmas to prevent the threat of the SNP Finance Secretary quitting.
A terminally ill Scots OAP was left without a washing machine and tumble dryer after signing up to a Scottish Government -funded scheme.
One of Nicola Sturgeon’s top civil servants has been caught on video telling colleagues his job is about “breaking up” the UK. Ken Thomson’s shock statement has sparked calls from opposition MSPs for civil servants to concentrate on the cost of living crisis rather than independence.
The UK Government is "scared" of allowing a second Scottish independence referendum because it knows it will lose, the SNP's depute leader has claimed.
Nicola Sturgeon has spent over £260,000 of taxpayers’ cash fighting failed Supreme Court cases against the UK Government. Sources have confirmed that the legal bill for the First Minister’s doomed battle to hold a second independence referendum without the consent of Westminster will top £130,000.
NHS staff have been offered a "final" improved pay offer by the Scottish Government following days of negotiations with trade unions.
Nicola Sturgeon has declared she will not "allow Scottish democracy to be a prisoner of Westminster" after the Supreme Court struck down her referendum plan.
Nicola Sturgeon's plan to hold an independence referendum next year has suffered a major set-back after judges ruled the Scottish Parliament does not have the required legal powers.
Judges on the UK Supreme Court will deliver their verdict on whether the Scottish Parliament can hold a second independence referendum without prior approval from the UK Government.
Teachers have been offered a new pay deal in a bid to avert strike action which is set to take place later this week.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has received approval from the Scottish Government on the Full Business Case (FBC) for the new national facility for young people at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine.
The sister of a man who died after being restrained by police officers in Fife will lead a vigil as the second part of the inquiry into his death begins.
Teachers across Scotland are set to walkout next month in a dispute over pay and condition, it has been announced.