Zarah ChoudharyUnite trade union can confirm today that 500 Scottish Water members are being balloted for industrial action following a ‘poor pay’ offer made by the public body.
The basic pay offer made in October amounted to 3.4%, or no less than £1,200 depending on salary grade, with standby payments to increase by the same percentage.
The offer was rejected by Unite’s members; Scottish Water then proposed an additional £200 but the pay round would start from July 2024 – July 2025, and then commence in April for a year.
This offer was also rejected by Unite, which highlighted how Scottish Water’s counterparts in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Water and Northern Ireland Water Alpha, in contrast received a £1,500 non-consolidated payment and a 5% wage rise in December.
The union further drew attention to the executive pay levels at Scottish Water.
In August 2024, it was reported that Scottish Water executives were awarded £227,000 in bonuses, after water bills in Scotland increased by 8.8% from April.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Scottish Water has failed to make our members a fair and decent pay offer.
“Contrast this management snub with the eye-watering packages its executive team members are dishing out to themselves.
“Unite will fully support our members in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at Scottish Water.”
12 executive members of the public body benefited from remuneration packages worth a combined £1.15m up from £854,000 in 2023, reported Unite.
Unite’s membership includes waste water operatives, water treatment and burst repair operatives, maintenance engineers, electricians and sewage tanker drivers.
Due to the key frontline roles undertaken by Unite’s membership in sewers, water treatment centres and on pipework, the union warned that industrial action would directly impact Scottish Water’s ability to respond to water leakages, flooding, pollution and quality concerns.
Industrial action could involve strike action, working to rule and working only to contracted hours.
Unite voiced concerns over the ongoing job evaluation scheme, which it claimed means members being downgraded in pay.
In December 2023, a widespread industrial dispute at the public body was resolved with a pay offer, and an agreement to negotiate the scheme separately from the pay offer.
Sam Ritchie, industrial officer at Unite, said: “Scottish Water’s executive team appear too preoccupied with awarding themselves bonus and pension top-ups to make our members a decent pay offer.
“Unite has no option but to ballot our members on industrial action because Scottish Water is ignoring our members’ reasonable demands.
“To add insult to injury, there is a botched job evaluation process ongoing which is leading to many of our members losing pay through being downgraded.
“That is unacceptable and we will fight back against this culture of arrogance at Scottish Water.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Water responded: “Scottish Water is a great place to work with dedicated colleagues who provide essential services to people across the country.
“As a responsible employer we want to make sure our people are paid fairly.
“Our offer of 3.4% with a £1400 minimum increase is significantly above inflation.
“With previous improvements to pay and conditions, Scottish Water would be spending 17% more on employee salaries than it did two years ago.
“In addition, we have also reduced our company work week to 35 hours.
“We will continue to work hard to support our people and welcome further discussions with our joint trade unions to resolve this issue amicably as soon as possible.”
