NHS porters could return to work after almost three months on strike as the health board concedes to up their grades.
Talks between NHS Tayside and the Unite Union have moved forward with all porters at Ninewells and Royal Victoria Hospitals being offered a rebanding of their job descriptions from band 1 to band 2 the issue that started the dispute.
Additionally 14 porters who had been on fixed term contracts which expired last month have been offered permanent contracts.
NHS Tayside Chief Executive Lesley McLay said: “Our porters matter to us. We recognise the importance of the role and the significant contribution that the porters make to the health service here in Tayside.
“While the STAC report did not find in Unite’s favour – with the independent report concluding that NHS Tayside applied the job evaluation process correctly – we’ve sought to find a compromise with our portering staff.
“In this new role, their job description would be reconfigured and they would undertake the full range of Band 2 portering duties, giving them a higher salary, improved career prospects and improved working conditions.”
Last week porters looking to end the dispute accused Scotland’s health minister, Shona Robison of holding up the process, something she firmly denied.
She said: “The negotiations on pay and conditions for porters at NHS Tayside are a matter for the board as the employer and Unite. It is up to the board to agree a deal with Unite, working through the full extent of options available to them under the Agenda for Change employment framework.
“There has been important progress made in these negotiations.
“These are important concessions and come even though the Scottish Terms and Conditions report did not find in favour of the porters case for a rebanding.
“Discussions are still taking place between the Board and Unite. Both sides now need to compromise and put in place a final agreement so the dispute can be brought to an end.”