Scottish Water dispute. Picket line at Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works Glasgow
The Scotsman
2023-11-10
Views 1.6K
GLASGOW. Scottish Water dispute. Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works, Renfrew Road, Glasgow
Workers of Scottish Water on the picket line outside Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works, Renfrew Road, Glasgow.
Strike action goes ahead at Scottish Water as Unite says talks ‘waste of time’
500 key frontline workers to take part in first round of four days of action
Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, can confirm today (Thursday 9 November) that its 500-strong Scottish Water membership will take its first round of strike action after talks with the public body ended in failure.
Unite, along with the other recognised trade unions yesterday (Wednesday 8 November), held its latest round of talks with Scottish Water bosses following the announcement of 48 days of industrial action over three months.
Several rounds of talks through the auspices of the conciliation service Acas have been held but there has been no breakthrough ahead of the first round of industrial action which begins at 00.01 hours on Friday 10 November and ends at 23.59 hours on Monday 13 November. The action includes an overtime and stand-by ban.
A number of major pickets and demonstrations across Scotland will be held in towns and cities to coincide with the strike action. Interviews at the destinations listed in notes to editors can be arranged.
Unite has described the latest talks as a ‘waste of time’ as the trade union accused Scottish Water bosses of proposing a revised offer with ‘more strings attached than a symphony orchestra’.
The trade union’s membership includes waste water operatives, water treatment and burst repair operatives, maintenance engineers, electricians and sewage tanker drivers.
The dispute centres on Unite accusing Scottish Water bosses of bypassing long-standing collective bargaining processes involving unions. This specifically relates to a new ‘reward system’ which Scottish Water bosses are trying to impose on the workforce. The proposed system is being tied to the 2023 pay offer.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “Scottish Water has failed to address the concerns of our members. Instead, Scottish Water has continued to press ahead with its proposed new grading structure which they are foolishly linking to the pay offer.
“Talks have been a waste of time. It appears to be the case that the bosses in the boardroom will only listen to us when our members have taken to the picket lines across Scotland. Unite will fully support our members in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at Scottish Water.”
Due to the key frontline roles undertaken by Unite’s membership in sewers, water treatment centres and on pipework, the union believes the industrial action will significantly impair Scottish Water’s ability to respond to water leakages, flooding, pollution, and drinking water quality concerns.
In practical terms, this means burst pipe repairs on roads and highways would not be repaired by Unite members.
Workers of Scottish Water on the picket line outside Shieldhall Waste Water Treatment Works, Renfrew Road, Glasgow.
Strike action goes ahead at Scottish Water as Unite says talks ‘waste of time’
500 key frontline workers to take part in first round of four days of action
Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, can confirm today (Thursday 9 November) that its 500-strong Scottish Water membership will take its first round of strike action after talks with the public body ended in failure.
Unite, along with the other recognised trade unions yesterday (Wednesday 8 November), held its latest round of talks with Scottish Water bosses following the announcement of 48 days of industrial action over three months.
Several rounds of talks through the auspices of the conciliation service Acas have been held but there has been no breakthrough ahead of the first round of industrial action which begins at 00.01 hours on Friday 10 November and ends at 23.59 hours on Monday 13 November. The action includes an overtime and stand-by ban.
A number of major pickets and demonstrations across Scotland will be held in towns and cities to coincide with the strike action. Interviews at the destinations listed in notes to editors can be arranged.
Unite has described the latest talks as a ‘waste of time’ as the trade union accused Scottish Water bosses of proposing a revised offer with ‘more strings attached than a symphony orchestra’.
The trade union’s membership includes waste water operatives, water treatment and burst repair operatives, maintenance engineers, electricians and sewage tanker drivers.
The dispute centres on Unite accusing Scottish Water bosses of bypassing long-standing collective bargaining processes involving unions. This specifically relates to a new ‘reward system’ which Scottish Water bosses are trying to impose on the workforce. The proposed system is being tied to the 2023 pay offer.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “Scottish Water has failed to address the concerns of our members. Instead, Scottish Water has continued to press ahead with its proposed new grading structure which they are foolishly linking to the pay offer.
“Talks have been a waste of time. It appears to be the case that the bosses in the boardroom will only listen to us when our members have taken to the picket lines across Scotland. Unite will fully support our members in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at Scottish Water.”
Due to the key frontline roles undertaken by Unite’s membership in sewers, water treatment centres and on pipework, the union believes the industrial action will significantly impair Scottish Water’s ability to respond to water leakages, flooding, pollution, and drinking water quality concerns.
In practical terms, this means burst pipe repairs on roads and highways would not be repaired by Unite members.
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