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Industrial action ballot at Sepa | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A ballot on industrial action is to begin among almost 800 employees at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. | |
Almost 40% of staff have been given three months notice unless they accept new terms and conditions. | Almost 40% of staff have been given three months notice unless they accept new terms and conditions. |
The public sector union, Unison, whose members are being balloted, said it will not be "bullied." | The public sector union, Unison, whose members are being balloted, said it will not be "bullied." |
Sepa said it had to comply with equality legislation and added that the new arrangements would bring significant benefits for many workers. | Sepa said it had to comply with equality legislation and added that the new arrangements would bring significant benefits for many workers. |
The publicly-funded body has about 1,300 staff at offices throughout Scotland. | The publicly-funded body has about 1,300 staff at offices throughout Scotland. |
Sepa, which has its corporate headquarters in Stirling, said under the new arrangements 90% of staff would receive pay increases but around 130 employees will not receive rises in the near future. | Sepa, which has its corporate headquarters in Stirling, said under the new arrangements 90% of staff would receive pay increases but around 130 employees will not receive rises in the near future. |
Their pay "will be temporarily held back in order to bring their salary within their new pay grade", Sepa said. | Their pay "will be temporarily held back in order to bring their salary within their new pay grade", Sepa said. |
'Bullied and brow-beaten' | 'Bullied and brow-beaten' |
The union has claimed that some staff could lose thousands of pounds each year. | The union has claimed that some staff could lose thousands of pounds each year. |
The ballot will ask staff if they are prepared to take action short of strike action, working to contract and contracted hours. | The ballot will ask staff if they are prepared to take action short of strike action, working to contract and contracted hours. |
The union claimed this would be likely to restrict the ability of Sepa to carry out work relating to sampling, inspection and flood warning. | The union claimed this would be likely to restrict the ability of Sepa to carry out work relating to sampling, inspection and flood warning. |
Unison's Sepa branch chairman, Alan Fleming, said: "We have now had to start the procedures that could lead to industrial action. | Unison's Sepa branch chairman, Alan Fleming, said: "We have now had to start the procedures that could lead to industrial action. |
"Morale amongst the workforce is low and Unison will not allow members to be bullied and brow-beaten in this way." | "Morale amongst the workforce is low and Unison will not allow members to be bullied and brow-beaten in this way." |
The ballot will close on 25 April. | The ballot will close on 25 April. |
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