Workers at Scottish Water have voted to accept an improved wage offer, bringing an end to a series of strikes over pay, says UNISON today (Thursday).
The pay deal covers two financial years (2024/25 and 2025/26) and is worth a minimum of £2,850.
It follows ten days of strike action earlier this year by Scottish Water staff, who include treatment plant operators, maintenance crews, water quality teams and other frontline workers.
Despite accepting the improved pay offer, UNISON says it will continue to press Scottish Water bosses to cut the excessive use of contractors and agency staff.
The union also says more must be done to improve industrial relations across the sector following the lengthy dispute.
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Greig Kelbie said: “The immediate dispute may be over, but staff concerns continue. They want better pay and conditions, and to keep Scottish Water as a publicly-owned and run service.
“The company’s behaviour has become ever more like that of profit-driven water firms in England. That’s not the way a vital public service for Scotland should operate.
“The union and staff will be fighting the creeping privatisation of the industry.”
UNISON Scottish Water branch secretary Patricia McArthur said: “Staff have decided to accept this offer after a long and difficult dispute, but it’s far from ideal.
“In theory Scottish Water is still the jewel in the crown of Scotland’s public services. But the reality is that its operations are being handed increasingly to private operators. That must stop.
“Staff have shown their strength and resilience throughout this dispute and will continue to use that to defend Scotland’s water industry. It has to be run for the public good, not private profit.”