A ballot of Scottish seniors’ doctors (consultants and SAS doctors) on industrial action over working lives and pay will open on 26 October and close on 7 December; please ensure both dates are in your diary.
To ensure you are eligible to vote check the details BMA hold for you.
SAS doctors in Scotland are being asked to support an industrial action ballot to strengthen our collective voice on wellbeing, safe working and sustainable careers. This follows the Scottish Government’s decision to impose the latest DDRB pay uplift of 3.5% without meaningful talks on the pressures facing SAS doctors, including wellbeing, reform of the working week and the conditions needed to support safe and effective patient care.
Our aims
The aim of the ballot is not to take industrial action for its own sake, but to secure a stronger mandate for change. We are calling for urgent negotiations with Scottish Government to deliver real progress on SAS doctors’ wellbeing, safer and more sustainable working lives, and reform of the working week, alongside fair recognition for the work SAS doctors do. Industrial action would remain a last resort, but a strong turnout and a clear vote would show that SAS doctors are united in demanding the conditions needed to work safely and sustainably.
Background
The proposed industrial action ballot follows a series of steps taken by SSASC (Scottish Specialist, Associate Specialist, Speciality doctors committee) to seek meaningful progress on SAS doctors’ wellbeing, working conditions and the sustainability of SAS careers. After the 2024/25 pay agreement, SSASC engaged with the DDRB process on the basis that its recommendations would provide a starting point for further discussion with Scottish Government on the wider pressures affecting SAS doctors.
Following the 2025/26 DDRB recommendation, Scottish Government imposed the uplift without meaningful discussion on the wider issues affecting SAS doctors’ working lives. SSASC then sought to develop a broader pay and conditions strategy, including proposals to improve wellbeing and safe working through reform of the working week, but again this did not lead to progress.
In 2026, SSASC and SCC sought further talks with Scottish Government, supported by member survey evidence showing strong dissatisfaction with wellbeing, workload and working conditions. However, after meeting the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care in August, Scottish Government confirmed it would impose the DDRB 3.5% uplift and offered no meaningful route to discuss wellbeing, safe working or working week reform.
SSASC subsequently voted to enter formal dispute with Scottish Government and wrote jointly with SCC seeking urgent talks to resolve the dispute. The committee has now received approval from BMA UK Council to ballot SAS doctors in Scotland for industrial action, with the aim of securing a negotiated settlement that improves wellbeing, safe working and wider conditions.
To date Scottish Government has yet to respond to the joint correspondence sent by the committees.
Keep up to date with what's happening
Still have questions?
Contact the BMA via our employment advice form if you have a question about your personal circumstances.
Read more about the 2024-25 pay offer for SAS doctors working in Scotland.
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