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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Christmas action by water staff | Christmas action by water staff |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Water staff locked in a pay dispute with their employer are refusing to provide emergency standby cover over the festive break. | Scottish Water staff locked in a pay dispute with their employer are refusing to provide emergency standby cover over the festive break. |
| Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions will take the action from 1600 GMT on Christmas Eve until 5 January. | Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions will take the action from 1600 GMT on Christmas Eve until 5 January. |
| Workers who would normally be on standby to deal with bursts, flooding and sewer failures will not be available, the unions said. | Workers who would normally be on standby to deal with bursts, flooding and sewer failures will not be available, the unions said. |
| Scottish Water said it would have contingency plans in place. | Scottish Water said it would have contingency plans in place. |
| More than 800 employees staged a 24-hour walkout in November amid the dispute. | More than 800 employees staged a 24-hour walkout in November amid the dispute. |
| Scottish Water can improve the offer and I would urge them to reconsider their position and resolve this dispute Dave Wilkinson Chairman of Unison's water branch | Scottish Water can improve the offer and I would urge them to reconsider their position and resolve this dispute Dave Wilkinson Chairman of Unison's water branch |
| The latest action came after the public utility company and the unions failed to reach a resolution to the row over pay awards in a meeting on Monday. | The latest action came after the public utility company and the unions failed to reach a resolution to the row over pay awards in a meeting on Monday. |
| Scottish Water said it and the Scottish Government had seen an enhanced offer of 3.75% - an increase on the 3.5% proposed previously - as a way forward in the dispute. | Scottish Water said it and the Scottish Government had seen an enhanced offer of 3.75% - an increase on the 3.5% proposed previously - as a way forward in the dispute. |
| However, the unions said the company could afford to make a better offer. | However, the unions said the company could afford to make a better offer. |
| Chris Wallace, Scottish Water's director of communications, said bosses were extremely disappointed by the decision to take industrial action. | Chris Wallace, Scottish Water's director of communications, said bosses were extremely disappointed by the decision to take industrial action. |
| He added: "We are working on contingency plans to ensure our service to customers is not compromised. | He added: "We are working on contingency plans to ensure our service to customers is not compromised. |
| 'Unfortunate action' | |
| "This is action by a segment of the workforce and every effort will be made to limit any effect on our customers. We would ask for understanding from our customers as we seek to limit the impact of this unfortunate action." | "This is action by a segment of the workforce and every effort will be made to limit any effect on our customers. We would ask for understanding from our customers as we seek to limit the impact of this unfortunate action." |
| GMB organiser Richard Leonard said the unions' decision was not taken lightly. | GMB organiser Richard Leonard said the unions' decision was not taken lightly. |
| He said: "We have met twice with senior Scottish Water directors in the last few days in a bid to avert this action. | He said: "We have met twice with senior Scottish Water directors in the last few days in a bid to avert this action. |
| "But these directors appear to have taken a decision that they would rather see this important public service put at risk than negotiate a settlement." | "But these directors appear to have taken a decision that they would rather see this important public service put at risk than negotiate a settlement." |
| Dave Wilkinson, chairman of Unison's water branch, said: "Scottish Water can improve the offer and I would urge them to reconsider their position and resolve this dispute." | Dave Wilkinson, chairman of Unison's water branch, said: "Scottish Water can improve the offer and I would urge them to reconsider their position and resolve this dispute." |