More than a thousand Scottish Water workers have been issued with strike ballots over pay, says their union UNISON today (Thursday).
If workers back industrial action, there could be mass walkouts across the country next month, the union says.
Scottish Water has offered employees 3.4% or £1400, whichever is the greater. The union says this does not begin to compensate workers for a decade of pay cuts or recognise their value.
UNISON Scottish Water branch secretary Tricia McArthur said: “No one wants to take strike action, but Scottish Water workers feel they’ve no choice. Staff are simply asking for a fair pay rise to keep up with inflation and restore some of the pay they’ve lost over the past 10 years.”
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Emma Phillips said: “Scottish Water directors have behaved appallingly. They are already on massive salaries, but don’t see fit to give hard-working staff a fair pay rise.”
“All workers at Scottish Water are vital to providing homes and businesses with clean, fresh water and dealing with sewage. They deserve fair pay.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON represents more than 1,000 workers at Scottish Water, where it is the largest union.
– UNISON’s strike ballot opened this week and closes at noon on Monday 17 February.
– UNISON is Scotland’s largest union, with more than 150,000 members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.