Scottish Water Staff Vote to Strike Over Pay Dispute

Staff at Scottish Water have voted decisively to strike over pay, according to UNISON. The union announced today that workers will impose a ban on overtime and will no longer be on standby. If Scottish Water does not engage in talks to improve the current wage offer, UNISON warns of possible mass walkouts.

Scottish Water has proposed a pay rise of 3.4% or £1,400, whichever is greater. However, UNISON argues that this offer falls short of what workers deserve. For the past decade, employees have faced pay cuts that have not kept pace with inflation. Most staff earn less than £31,000 a year, while senior managers reportedly take home salaries in the hundreds of thousands.

Emma Phillips, a regional organiser for UNISON Scotland, stated, “No one wants to disrupt services.” Yet, she added, staff feel they have no choice. The lack of fair pay has led to growing discontent among workers.

Tricia McArthur, branch secretary for UNISON Scottish Water, criticized the directors for ignoring staff concerns. She stressed the importance of a fair offer to attract and keep workers, especially as more tasks are being handed over to private contractors.

The strike ballot, which lasted three weeks, saw a turnout of 69%. Of those who voted, 65% supported strike action, while 73% backed action short of a strike.

UNISON represents over 1,000 workers at Scottish Water, making it the largest union within the organization. With over 150,000 members, UNISON is Scotland’s largest union, providing vital public services across various sectors, including education, local government, the NHS, police service, and energy.