Scottish Water Employees to Stage Two-Day Strike Amidst Pay Dispute, Disrupting Essential Services

Scottish Water employees are planning a two-day strike, starting Tuesday at midnight, due to an ongoing pay dispute. The action is an escalation of the disagreement.

The strike, organized by Unison, which represents over 1,000 workers, will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. The union rejected a 2.6% pay offer, equivalent to at least £1,050, arguing it doesn't adequately address the real-term pay cuts experienced over the past decade. This follows a previous one-day strike on March 28.

During the 48-hour walkout, essential services, including emergency repairs and water quality checks, will be suspended, according to the union. Customers are advised that issues related to water supply, sewage, or drainage will not be addressed until the strike concludes. However, Scottish Water has stated that they have contingency plans in place to maintain normal service.

Unison representatives have expressed that strike action is a last resort, citing that staff have endured years of pay deals that haven't kept pace with inflation. They claim they have attempted to negotiate a fair offer with Scottish Water's management, but without success.

Scottish Water workers are seeking fair compensation for the essential services they provide. They believe that a publicly owned service should operate differently from private water companies. A strike ballot in February resulted in 65% of votes in favor of the walkouts.

Scottish Water's chief operating officer stated that their focus is on continuing to serve their customers. They consider their pay proposal to be fair and progressive, prioritizing higher percentage increases for those with the lowest salaries. They also mentioned meeting with Acas and the trade unions to explore solutions and made a further improved proposal. They expressed disappointment that the union officials did not present the offer to their members for a vote and urged the unions to return to negotiations.