Strikes begin at Scottish Water after pay talks collapse

GMB Scotland members at Scottish Water walked out today to launch a rolling programme of industrial action threatening to disrupt emergency repairs, testing and maintenance.

Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser, said the strikes could easily have been averted by Scottish Water long before last-ditch talks at conciliation service Acas collapsed.

She said: “This dispute is straightforward, the issues are clear and a resolution easily achievable.

“The persistent refusal of this publicly-owned company to negotiate in a sensible, productive way should be a concern for every tax-payer.

“We had believed a way forward was beginning to emerge after long discussions on one set of proposals when the company delivered a brand new set.

“They not only moved the goalposts but dismantled them and shipped them abroad.

“Their action has managed to infuriate a committed workforce leading to industrial action over a dispute which could and should have been settled months ago.

“Our priority is now and always has been to resolve this dispute but then lessons must be learned.”

Scottish Water members of GMB Scotland and other staff unions will strike for one day today as plans are made for lengthier, more disruptive walkouts next month.

The union said members backed industrial action after the publicly-owned utility, where executives received record bonuses last year, reduced the terms of a pay offer that had already been rejected.

They voted against an offer of 3.4% or £1400 covering the last nine months as the company changes the date for annual rises to take effect from July to April.

At talks at conciliation service Acas, however, the publicly-owned utility revealed the minimum backpay would only be £1050.