Zarah ChoudharyUnite has confirmed that its 500-strong Scottish Water membership will take industrial action at the public body in a dispute over pay.
In the opening phase of action at Scottish Water, Unite has revealed that its members will hold a standby ban and a ban on contractual overtime over two consecutive weekends.
The bans will begin at 4:00pm on 7th March up to 08.00am on 10th March, and at the same time on 14th March until 17th March.
Scottish Water relies heavily on workers doing overtime or the organisation would need to pay substantial payments to contractors to undertake outstanding remedial works according to Unite.
Due to the key frontline roles undertaken by Unite’s membership in sewers, water treatment centres and on pipework, the industrial action will directly impact Scottish Water’s ability to respond to water leakages, flooding, pollution and quality concerns over these weekends.
Unite’s members have rejected an initial basic pay offer over nine months amounting to 3.4%, or no less than £1,200 depending on salary grade which would run from July 2024 to April 2025.
The union is highlighting that Scottish Water’s counterparts in Northern Ireland in contrast received a £1,500 non-consolidated payment and a 5% wage rise in December.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite said: “Unite’s membership at Scottish Water is determined to hold those in charge of the public body to account.
“It’s simply unacceptable that the hard work and dedication of our members is not being rewarded while Scottish Water executive pay hits eye-watering levels.
“Unite will fully support our members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at Scottish Water.”
Sam Ritchie, industrial officer at Unite, said: “Unite’s members are outraged by the culture of arrogance gripping Scottish Water’s management.
“Let’s remember that the exorbitant executive pay levels are being funded by the Scottish public.
“Industrial action will significantly impair the ability of Scottish Water to provide a service over two consecutive weekends.
“Alex Plant and his executive team who are dining out on the public purse must significantly improve the pay offer or industrial action is inevitable.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “Our above-inflation pay offer is fair and progressive, prioritising the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades – money that should be in employees’ pockets now.
“No-one benefits from industrial action, and we would encourage the joint trade unions to resume negotiations as soon as possible so that we can resolve any outstanding issues amicably and continue to deliver for our millions of customers across Scotland.
“We stand ready to discuss at any point and we encourage the unions to come back to the table with their proposals as to how we resolve matters.”
