Eleventh-hour talks were under way last night to avert potentially damaging industrial action which could affect water services across Scotland during the festive break.
Eleventh-hour talks were under way last night to avert potentially damaging industrial action which could affect water services across Scotland during the festive break.
The GMB, Unison and Unite unions yesterday announced that emergency cover over Christmas and the New Year break would be withdrawn from 4pm today after talks with senior Scottish Water managers over pay broke down on Monday.
The unions, which represent about 2350 workers, said the action would mean staff who would normally attend water or sewage treatment failures, burst mains or flooding over the festive period would not be available until January 5.
Scottish Water last night reassured the public that contingency plans would be in place to ensure customer service was not compromised.
The action comes after the company and unions failed to reach a pay deal.
Last night a union official said Unison representatives were in talks with senior Scottish Water managers to try and reach a settlement. The official said the GMB and Unite could not attend the talks but were likely to be involved today.
The planned industrial action comes after hundreds of Scottish Water staff walked out last month in protest at a pay rise they claim is not good enough.
Richard Leonard, who represents 600 GMB members in Scottish Water, 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."
He said the unions had put forward a number of proposals which they believe would have solved the dispute.
Mr Leonard added: "Our members provide a vital service in safeguarding public health, managing a precious natural resource and protecting the environment. They deserve reward and respect for their efforts.
"While directors in Scottish Water have pocketed pay rises of between 30% and 40% over the last two years, workers are being offered little over 2%.
"As a public utility this is all being done in our name. That's why we are looking for public support and if necessary political intervention to find a just outcome."
Douglas Black, regional organiser of Unison Scotland which represents about 1150 workers with the utility, said: "I am astonished at the intransigence being shown by Scottish Water.
"This is potentially a very damaging dispute that, in our view, can be resolved. However, Scottish Water seems unwilling to do so."
Mr Black called on Scottish Water chief executive Richard Ackroyd to broker a resolution rather than "abdicating responsibility" to his management team.
The union chief added: "There is still time to resolve this dispute before the industrial action begins. However, Scottish Water must be prepared to make significant improvements."
Scottish Water said it had hoped an enhanced offer of 3.75% would provide a way forward in the dispute.
Director of communications Chris Wallace, said: "We are extremely disappointed by the decision of unions to reject this new pay offer from Scottish Water and to carry out industrial action over Christmas and New Year.
"We are working on contingency plans to ensure our service to customers is not compromised."
He added: "Scottish Water believes that the proposed extension to the pay deal through to 2010 was a positive step to try and resolve what can only become an increasingly damaging dispute."
