HEALTHCARE workers are being balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay.

UNISON Scotland has notified 21 health boards and eight private contractors to advise it will ballot more than 50,000 NHS members in the dispute.

The ballot commenced on Monday, October 3, after more than 80 per cent voted in favour of industrial action in a recent consultative poll.

Wilma Brown, chair of UNISON Scotland's health committee, said: "The Scottish Government's offer is nowhere near enough to keep pace with rising prices, and is nowhere near what's needed to improve staffing and protect patient care.

"It will only worsen the current NHS staffing crisis.

"It is now six months since NHS staff should have had a pay increase, it is simply not good enough.

"No-one wants to take strike action but without urgent intervention from the Scottish Government on pay, our members will be left with no choice."

It is understood the government offered a five per cent pay rise across the board, with a higher increase for the lowest paid staff through the implementation of a £10.50 per hour pay floor.

According to the current offer, those on the lowest pay would see their salaries increase from £19,487 to £20,532.

Matt McLaughlin, UNISON Scotland's head of health, said: "This is the first time since devolution that NHS workers have been balloted for strike action over pay.

"We're in the biggest cost of living and NHS staffing crisis in history and yet the Scottish Government want hard-working health workers to accept a real-terms pay cut.

"The health minister needs to understand the anger felt by NHS workers and telling them that he is disappointed they did not accept a below inflation pay deal is not going to solve this dispute.

"Our hard-working NHS staff deserve better, and the minister needs to come back to the table with a serious offer."

The ballot will run until October 31 and there are hopes that industrial action can still be averted.

It is understood the Royal College of Nursing is also balloting members between October 6 and November 2.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "Any ballot for industrial action is disappointing.

"We are engaged with health unions and I hope we can come to an agreement on pay in the near future.

"This work continues in the context of our Emergency Budget Review following the UK Government's fiscal event."