Monday at noon, when the consultative vote concluded, 82% of union members who voted rejected the offer.

Early in 2023, nurses in Scotland are expected to go on strike after members of the Royal College of Nursing “overwhelmingly” rejected the Scottish government’s latest pay offer.

In the consultative vote, which concluded on Monday at noon, 82% of voters rejected the “best and last” offer from Holyrood ministers.

The action could result in RCN Scotland members striking for the first time.

The union stated that it will announce striking dates early in the new year, and “the ball is in the Scottish government’s court” if a strike is to be avoided.

Following negotiations with the government, the agreement provided wage increases ranging from £2,205 to £2,751.

The average raise for NHS employees would have been 7.5%, with the lowest-paid employees receiving a boost of 11.3%.

Ministers stated that the offer ensured that NHS personnel in Scotland will continue to be the best compensated in the United Kingdom.

Julie Lamberth, head of the RCN Scotland board, stated that asking members to accept or reject the offer was “the correct thing to do.”

She continued, “It directly affects their lives, so every eligible member must have the opportunity to voice their opinion.”

“The outcome could hardly be clearer; we have decisively rejected the Scottish government’s ‘best and last’ proposal.

“Make no mistake – we do not want to go on strike. Years of being devalued and understaffed have left us feeling as though we have been left with no choice.

“The Scottish government has the trump card if strike action is to be averted.”

The Royal College of Midwives also stated that its members had rejected the offer, with nearly two-thirds (65%) voting against a settlement that, according to the college, would leave many midwives “really worse off”

It has also been rejected by GMB employees, however, it has been adopted by Unite and Unison employees.