Scottish Watter Staff Vote tae Strike Ower Pey Dispute

Staff at Scottish Watter hae voted decisively tae strike ower pey, accoordin tae UNISON. Da union annoonced da day dat warkers will impose a ban on ower time an will nae langer be on staundby. If Scottish Watter disnae engage in talks tae improve da current wage offer, UNISON warns o possible mass walkouts.

Scottish Watter has proposed a pey rise o 3.4% or £1,400, whitivver is greater. Houanivver, UNISON argues dat dis offer faas short o whit warkers deserve. For da past decade, employees hae faced pey cuts dat hae nae kept pace wi inflation. Maist staff earn less than £31,000 a year, while senior managers reportedly tak hame salaries in da hunners o thoosan.

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

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

Da strike ballot, whit lasted three weeks, saw a turnoot o 69%. O dose 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 da main union ithin da organisation. Wi ower 150,000 memmers, UNISON is Scotland’s mucklest union, providin vital public services ower various sectors, includin education, local government, da NHS, polis service, an energy.