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The Independent
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Union urges for ministers to help with Scottish Water pay dispute
Scottish Water workers have begun one week of strike action in a row over a pay deal. Members of GMB Scotland and other unions are striking from Monday for seven consecutive days at the publicly-owned organisation, with a mass rally planned in Glasgow on Wednesday. Scottish ministers have been urged to get involved in the dispute, which began in June 2024. Workers at GMB Scotland backed industrial action after the water company reduced the terms of a pay offer that had already been rejected, according to the union, which claimed that executives received record bonuses last year. Unionised staff voted against an offer of 3.4% or £1,400 covering the last nine months as the company changed the date for annual rises from July to April. The company branded industrial action 'unnecessary' and said seven offers have been made since June 2024. Scottish Water's latest offer would see an average pay increase of around 7% over two years (2024/25 and 2025/26), in addition to a 3.5% yearly salary increase. It called for 'sensible' negotiations from the unions, rejecting suggestions that emergency works would be impacted. In a marginal majority, 51% of Unison workers employed by the water supplier voted to reject the pay offer, and 49% voted to accept. The turnout was 86%. GMB said 60% of its members voted against the offer, and 40% chose to accept, on a turnout of 78%, while statistics were not provided by Unison. The strikes will conclude on June 8, and follow two days of industrial action in April. GMB Scotland organiser Claire Greer wrote to secretary for net zero Gillian Martin, raising concerns about the failure to resolve the dispute. Ms Greer said: 'It is impossible to know whether Scottish Water is playing games or simply inept, but the relentless progress of this dispute towards industrial action could have been halted at any time with open and straightforward negotiations. 'Instead, we have been given a series of needlessly complicated offers, one worse than the last, as managers spend more time attempting to undermine staff unions than delivering a fair offer. 'It needs to stop and if Scottish Water do not know how, ministers must explain public money is being risked by a dispute that should have been settled months ago. 'The public deserves better and workers deserve a fair pay offer.' Peter Farrer, chief operating officer at Scottish Water, said: 'This week's industrial action is unnecessary. It will mean union members losing valuable wages and add extra costs to the business which are ultimately paid for by customers. 'We invited the joint trade unions to talk over the weekend but unfortunately they refused to meet without preconditions. 'Given how close the vote against our latest pay offer was, we felt a resolution was possible and would be welcomed by all our colleagues. 'It is now time for the joint trade union leadership to return to the table with a sensible solution that ends this dispute. 'In the meantime, we have robust plans in place to maintain essential services should the trade unions press ahead with their strike action.'
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Staff at Slough-based John Crane call off strikes after pay offer
Workers at an engineering firm have called off a strike after a pay deal was Unite members at Slough-based firm John Crane were set to walk out in May and June after they rejected a pay offer of 3%.But on Wednesday, the union announced they had voted to accept an improved offer of 3.75% backdated to October regional officer Malcolm Bonnett said workers had showed "great strength and unity" on the picket line. Employees at John Crane make seals, bearings and pumps for the oil and gas industry, and had previously undertaken six days of strike action in April and were due to walk out from 27 May to 31 May and on 5 and 11 new pay agreement is part of a two-year deal, which will also see workers getting a 3% uplift next year,.It also involved John Crane dropping plans to give staff individual appraisals to determine pay going forward, Unite said."This improved offer only came about because our members were determined to fight for a better deal through industrial action," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham Bonnett said there was "still work to be done when it comes to pay", adding the union looked forward to negotiating further with the company. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS Scotland staff vote to accept two-year 8% pay offer
NHS nurses, midwives, paramedics and other healthcare staff across Scotland have voted to accept a 8% pay deal over two years. Scotland's Health Secretary Neil Gray said 170,000 NHS staff would now receive a 4.25% increase in 2025-26 and a 3.7% rise the following year. It will cost about £700m and includes an "inflation guarantee", meaning pay increases will always be 1% above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate. The Scottish deal is significantly higher than the 3% recommended by pay review bodies in England and Wales where pay negotiations are continuing. The main NHS health unions had promised to consult their members after the Scottish offer was announced last month. It will affect a wide range of staff including nurses, midwives, paramedics - and other workers such as porters - but not doctors whose pay is negotiated separately. The health secretary said: "We want to ensure they feel value and rewarded and I'm very pleased that they have agreed to accept a strong two-year pay deal."Staff will see the benefit of this pay uplift in their pay packets from next month."The deal, which is both fair and affordable, is guaranteed to remain above CPI inflation and will ensure Scotland's nurses, midwives and NHS staff have the best reward package in the UK."With pay negotiations continuing in England and Wales, it remains unclear whether block grant funding from Westminster will cover the full cost of the rise. RCN Scotland, which represents nurses, said about half of its members eligible to vote had taken part in a ballot, with 60% backing the offer. Julie Lamberth, chair of the RCN Scotland board, said she recognised a significant minority voted to reject it, reflecting "continued frustration and concern"."The link between low pay, staff shortages and patient safety remains, and we will continue to make the case to the Scottish government for reform to achieve fair pay," she said. Unison Scotland said its members had voted 86% in favour of accepting the offer in a ballot but its head of health, Matt McLaughlin, said there was no room for complacency. "Waiting lists are the worst since devolution. The NHS in Scotland must address staff shortages if it is to turn the service's fortunes around," he said. NHS workers represented by Unite also voted overwhelmingly to accept the offer. The increase will be backdated to 1 April.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Telford Arriva bus strike avoided after pay deal reached
Bus strike avoided after pay deal agreed A series of strikes were due to begin on 6 May A bus strike in Telford has been averted after union members voted to accept an improved pay deal. More than 100 drivers employed by Arriva Midlands had voted for industrial action, which was due to begin on 6 May. Their union, Unite, said drivers in the town were underpaid compared to others elsewhere in the West Midlands. It said its members would "no doubt now be celebrating this excellent pay deal", while Arriva said the news would "come as a relief" to customers in Telford.
