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Water staff call off dispute Deal reached over water dispute
(30 minutes later)
Scottish Water has said industrial action by emergency stand-by staff has been averted following talks.Scottish Water has said industrial action by emergency stand-by staff has been averted following talks.
Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions had threatened to remove cover from 1600 GMT until 5 January in the dispute over pay. Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions had threatened to remove cover for water bursts, flooding and sewer failure as part of a dispute over pay.
Workers would normally be on stand-by to deal with bursts, flooding and sewer failures, the unions said. Scottish Water said the deal agreed at talks in Edinburgh amounted to a 7.75% pay increase over the next 27 months.
Scottish Water said the dispute had been suspended after a compromise was reached at a meeting in Edinburgh. A spokesman for Scottish Water said the cost of the deal would not be passed on to consumers in high charges.
The industrial action plan was announced on Tuesday following the breakdown of pay talks with senior managers.
Scottish Water said it had hoped an enhanced offer of 3.75% would provide a way forward in the dispute.
But Mr Black, regional organiser of Unison Scotland, insisted only 2% of the 3.75% figure was guaranteed.