THE proposed home for the new Scottish police force is to be disrupted by industrial action today.
The GMB union said that members, predominantly women contract workers, employed by the Sodexo, who provide services such as cleaning, security, reception and catering, are to launch an overtime ban at Tulliallan Police College in a dispute over low pay.
Staff voted unanimously to take action after the rejection of a much delayed pay offer.
GMB claims the workers should receive the Scottish Living Wage of £7.20 an hour. The vast majority of the staff are on a minimum rate of £6.37, it said.
Richard Leonard, GMB Scotland organiser, said "These hard working, low paid, predominantly women workers are just looking for justice. It is a source of shame that any workers are paid below a basic subsistence wage.
" These working men and women are not directly employed by the Scottish Police Authority, but they are employed for the Scottish Police Authority, they deserve to be treated with justice and fairness."
Sodexo would not comment on the dispute.
Police Scotland and its new chief constable Stephen House will operate out of converted accommodation at Tulliallan Castle, a police college near Kincardine, when it comes into being in April.
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