Deal reached over water dispute

Emergency cover will be available over the festive period

Industrial action by Scottish Water's emergency stand-by staff has been averted following talks.

Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions had threatened to remove cover for water bursts, flooding and sewer failure as part of a dispute over pay.

Scottish Water said the deal agreed at talks in Edinburgh amounted to a 7.75% pay increase over 27 months.

A joint statement from the unions said they were recommending that staff accepted the improved pay offer.

The union statement said: "We are pleased that we have been able to make significant progress on pay which allows all three trade unions to suspend the planned industrial action and consult their members with a recommendation to accept an improved offer."

Chris Wallace, director of communications, Scottish Water, said: "We have established common ground with the unions to end the proposed industrial action and to establish a pay deal that can be finalised and implemented in the new year.

"This new pay deal will result in a guaranteed pay award for 27 months from April 2008 to June 2010 of 7.75%. We will continue to talk with the unions to finalise the finer details of the pay deal in the new year."

He added: "Our main priority is always our customers. Our customers will now have the benefit of all on-call and emergency cover employees being available over the festive period."

Scottish Water said the cost of the deal would not be passed on to consumers in high charges.