A NURSING union has overwhelmingly rejected the latest pay offer from the Scottish Government.

In the consultative ballot for the Royal College of Nursing Scotland (RCN), which closed at midday on Monday, 82% of members voted to reject the revised offer.

The union will now continue planning for strike action with dates to be announced in the new year.

Members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have also voted against the offer and will meet to decide plans for a walkout.

Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland board chair, said the ball is now in the Scottish Government's court if it wants to avoid industrial action.

She said: “It was the right thing to ask our members whether to accept or reject this offer.

"It directly affects their lives and each eligible member needed to be given the chance to have their say.

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"The result could not be clearer. We have forcefully rejected what the Scottish Government said is its ‘best and final’ offer. 

“Make no mistake - we do not want to go on strike.

"Years of being undervalued and understaffed have left us feeling we have been left with no option because enough is enough.

"The ball is in Scottish Government’s court if strike action is going to be avoided.”

It comes after the GMB union became the first to knock back the offer last week.  

The Scottish Government had negotiated a pay increase equivalent to an average of 7.5%. 

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RCN's general secretary Pat Cullen had previously praised Nicola Sturgeon for the way in which she engaged with unions.

In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, she said coming to a quick resolution with Sturgeon in Scotland was an example of how nurses “are not for digging in” in the dispute.

The union paused plans for industrial action while it considered the latest offer ministers had put on the table, but members have now rejected it. 

Almost two-thirds of RCM members voted against accepting the pay offer. It said while it offered "welcome improvement" for early career midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs), it did little to improve the take-home pay of the majority of RCM members in Scotland.

Jaki Lambert, RCM director for Scotland, said: “Our members have spoken loud and clear – the latest pay offer by the Scottish Government is simply not good enough. It goes nowhere near addressing the rising cost of living and would see many midwives actually worse off in real terms.

“Our maternity services are continuing to face staffing challenges. In many places, it’s only the goodwill and commitment of midwives and their colleagues that keep these services going.

"Those same midwives and MSWs often find themselves working 12-hour shifts with no breaks, and even staying beyond those long shifts, just because there’s no-one to relieve them.

"They do it because they care and because it’s what women and families need – and we know those same women and families really value them for it. We have written to the Cabinet Secretary and said that it’s not too late to avert strike action – we just need to get back around the table.”

Members of unions Unite and Unison voted to accept the offer last week and called off planned strikes. 

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said on Twitter: "Disappointed RCN and RCM have rejected our record pay deal, however respect voice of their membership.

"Meaningful dialogue has helped avoid strikes thus far, I'll continue engagement and due to meet Unions tomorrow. We'll leave no stone unturned to ensure we avoid strikes this winter."