SCOTTISH Water workers in Dumfries and Galloway are on strike for 24 hours, starting earlier this morning, after staff voted overwhelmingly for action.
Scotland’s largest union, UNISON, says the strike will lead to disruption to water and sewage systems across the country.
However, Scottish Water have said their pay offer is ‘fair and progressive.
They have offered employees a wage increase this year of 2.6 per cent or £1050, whichever is the higher amount. The union says this does not even begin to compensate workers for a decade of pay cuts and fails to recognise the valuable jobs they do.
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Emma Phillips said: “Employees are sick of being taken for granted and underpaid, while their work is farmed out to private contractors, at even greater expense to the public.
“Workers have suffered a decade of pay cuts and wages haven’t kept up with inflation. Staff have been left feeling undervalued, and the company is struggling to retain its workforce. Things need to change, and that must start today.”
Branch secretary for UNISON Scottish Water Tricia McArthur added: “Strike action is always a last resort and no one wants to see services disrupted. But staff feel they’ve been left with no choice.
“Scottish Water workers deserve to be paid fairly for the services they provide. It’s important this vital publicly-owned service that so many rely on is protected, as are its dedicated workforce.”
Meanwhile, a Scottish Water spokesperson said: “No-one benefits from industrial action and our focus is on continuing to deliver for our millions of customers across Scotland.
“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.
“We have improved the offer in an effort to reach an agreement with the trade unions and we are now offering a combined deal for 2024/25 and 2025/26.
“This is a good deal and we would encourage union leaders to put it to their members and get back round the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
During the strike action, contingency plans are in place to enable normal services to carry on. Advice to customers is to report any issues to Scottish Water as they would do in normal circumstances.
