Scottish Watter Staff Vote for Strike Ower Pey Dispute

Staff at Scottish Watter hae voted decisively for a strike ower pey, accordin tae UNISON. The union annoonced the day that warkers will pit in a ban on ower-time an will nae langer be on staundby. If Scottish Watter disnae engage in talks tae improve the current wage offer, UNISON warns o possible mass walk-oots.

Scottish Watter has proposed a pey rise o 3.4% or £1,400, whitivver is greater. Houanivver, UNISON argues that this offer faws short o whit warkers deserve. For the past decade, employees hae faced pey cuts that huvnae kept pace wi inflation. Maist staff earn less than £31,000 a year, whiles senior managers reportedly tak hame salaries in the hunners o thoosands.

Emma Phillips, a regional organiser for UNISON Scotland, stated, “Naebody wants tae disrupt services.” Yet, she added, staff feel they hae nae chyce. The lack o fair pey has led tae growin discontent amang warkers.

Tricia McArthur, branch secretary for UNISON Scottish Watter, criticised the directors for ignorin staff concerns. She stressed the importance o a fair offer tae attract an haud on tae warkers, especially as mair tasks are bein haunded ower tae private contractors.

The strike ballot, that lasted three weeks, saw a turnoot o 69%. O thae wha voted, 65% supported strike action, while 73% backed action short o a strike.

UNISON represents ower 1,000 warkers at Scottish Watter, makin it the main union ithin the organisation. Wi ower 150,000 memmers, UNISON is Scotland’s mucklest union, providin vital public services ower various sectors, includin education, local government, the NHS, polis service, an energy.