Council workers strike over pay

Council craft workers will walk out on 2 June

Council workers, including plumbers, gas fitters and electricians, in several parts of Scotland, are to stage a one-day strike over pay.

The walk-out on 2 June will be followed by more 24-hour stoppages on every second Monday, said the Unite union.

Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, and North and South Lanarkshire will be among the councils affected.

But council employers' body Cosla said it did not know about the action until contacted by the BBC website.

Unite said the workers were "angry" they had to work longer hours than other Scottish local authority employees and craft workers in England, who worked a 37-hour week.

They have also rejected a 2.45% pay offer as other workers in Scottish local authorities received a higher pay increase, the union said.

It added that it hoped the ballot result would bring employers to the negotiating table and avert the stoppages.

These skilled workers are not asking for anything other than equal treatment with their colleagues in Scotland and in the rest of the UK John Allott Unite

Joe di Paola, head of employers at Cosla, said: "Thanks for letting us know - which is more than they have had the decency to do.

"This smacks of megaphone diplomacy at its worst. They should be speaking to us as the employers.

"We are more than willing to meet them at any time. While talks continue there is always a chance of resolving difficulties."

Unite national officer John Allott said: "These skilled workers are not asking for anything other than equal treatment with their colleagues in Scotland and in the rest of the UK.

"For five years many Scottish local authority employers have dragged their heels on giving equal treatment on hours.

"Our members have had enough and have been left with no choice than to take strike action."