John Swinney faced questions about the case of two Angus nurses locked in a seven-year pay battle with NHS Tayside as they took their fight to Holyrood on Thursday.
District nurses Cathy Fugaccia and Shona Middleton were supported by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar who said the case spoke to the disfunction in parts of the health service.
The two district nurses were upgraded to a higher pay band in 2018 but say NHS Tayside refused to honour the rise of around £7,000 a year.
The refusal to award the pay rise due to their expanded roles has cost the nurses more than £50,000, they say.
Trade union GMB Scotland says long-running discussions led nowhere.
Mr Sarwar told The Courier: “Cathy and Shona shouldn’t have to be coming into parliament lobbying ministers when a commitment was made and I think it shows you this is a government that has lost all control.
“It’s NHS managers that are frankly too often mismanaging and cries out why we need fundamental reform.”
North East MSP Michael Marra is supporting the nurses and Scottish Labour party leader Anas Sarwar is expected to meet them.
Speaking in parliament, the Scottish Labour MSP asked Mr Swinney to tell NHS Tayside to “get its act together”.
“Obviously I want these issues to be resolved and health boards have a responsibility to exercise their functions properly in that respect,” Mr Swinney replied.
‘Treatment of nurses in unacceptable’
Because the case is expected to be taking to tribunal, the first minister said he was limited in what he could say.
Mr Marra said: “The treatment of these nurses by NHS Tayside is unacceptable.
“A public body refusing to pay its workers what they are due should be an outrage to the Scottish Government.
“The first minister should make clear to NHS Tayside that they need to get their house in order.”
One of the nurses, Ms Middleton, who has been a district nurse in Monifeith for almost 28 years, told The Courier: “We are nurses not political campaigners and would much rather not have to go to Holyrood but we refuse to give up.
‘It’s not just about us’
“It is not just about us. It is about all NHS Scotland staff being treated with fairness and respect.”
Karen Leonard, GMB Scotland union organiser in NHS Scotland, said: “The health board have wilfully made this issue seem far more complicated than it is.
“It could not be more simple. It is about two nurses recognised to be working at a higher grade and promised a pay rise that never came.
NHS Tayside said previously the district nurse job evaluation was being reviewed nationally.
“During these meetings, detailed explanations and clarifications were provided about the reasons for the job evaluation outcomes,” NHS Tayside added.
“These discussions also outlined the options that remain available to staff.”
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