A third union has voted to hold strike action at Scottish Water, accusing the company bosses of acting like “Victorian mill owners.”
In a recent ballot, Unison members showed 78 percent in favour of striking, while over 70 percent of members participated in the vote.
This is the third union to support strike action at Scottish Water, following similar decisions by the GMB and Unite.
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The unions says Scottish Water, a publicly owned entity, acts as a “rogue employer” by coupling an annual pay offer with restructuring salaries and pay grades.
They argue that this combination will restrict the wages of many lower-paid workers in the future.
This dispute comes at a time when Scottish Water’s new CEO, Alex Plant is slammed for making an annual salary of £295,000 which breaches the Scottish Government’s public sector pay rules.
Plant’s salary exceeds that of his direct predecessor by £25,000, contrary to the pay policy’s expectation of a 10 percent reduction in the remuneration package.
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After the ballot result announcements, regional organiser Emma Phillips said: “It seems that the Scottish Government’s fair work and equality commitments don’t matter in our biggest and most precious public asset.
“There is a feeling amongst members that Scottish Water bosses are behaving like Victorian Mill owners – and this overwhelming vote for strike action is a reflection of how staff feel they are being treated.”
She said “no positive progress” was made during a meeting with the conciliation service Acas at the beginning of the week.
However, the union remains committed to resolving the dispute, with another crucial meeting scheduled for next week.
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She added: “Unison and the other unions want to negotiate a new pay and grading structure with Scottish Water, but this is a complex process that relies on accurate data.
“It is not going to be resolved quickly and these discussions need to be separated from any cost of living pay offer.
“The key workers at Scottish Water need their overdue, cost-of-living pay rise now.”
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A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed that the unions chose to ballot their members on industrial action whilst we remain in talks with them, as supported by Acas.
“We continue to seek to negotiate a resolution to this dispute over what we consider a very fair and reasonable proposal.
“It would increase the pay of every employee by at least 8% and transform our pay and grading structure, ensuring it is fit for the future.
The spokesperson added: “Both sides will continue conciliation talks on Monday to seek to achieve an outcome that benefits all our employees.”
