SCOTTISH Water staff from the Unite union will take their first round of strike action on Friday after talks with bosses broke down.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said at FMQs on Thursday he still hoped it could be averted at the 11th hour after lengthy talks took place earlier this week.
But Unite - one of three unions whose members are due to walk out - has confirmed 500 of its members will press ahead with the first walkout.
The first stoppage is scheduled to last for four days from Friday. Action is planned to run for 48 days over a three-month period.
A number of major pickets and demonstrations across Scotland will be held in towns and cities to coincide with the strike action.
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 dispute centres on Unite accusing Scottish Water bosses of bypassing long-standing collective bargaining processes involving unions.
The union says 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.”
The trade union’s membership includes waste water operatives, water treatment and burst repair operatives, maintenance engineers, electricians and sewage tanker drivers.
It believes the industrial action will significantly impair Scottish Water’s ability to respond to water leakages, flooding, pollution, and drinking water quality concerns.
