Unite in West Lothian Council
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Unite ballots members at Scottish Borders Council
Unite the union has today (28 May) confirmed that its membership in the roads department at Scottish Borders council (SBC) are to be balloted for industrial action from the 4 of June and closing on 25 June. The ballot comes in response to a series of detrimental changes being imposed by SBC to terms and conditions which includes a reduction in pension accrual as a result of cuts to pensionable overtime rates, and the removal of paid travel time. If the ballot is successful, then strike action is expected to take place from mid-July 2019 to mid-October 2019 in addition to a possible overtime ban and call-out ban during the same period.
Unite has strongly criticised SBC on there being no meaningful consultation or negotiation prior to the announcement on these imposed changes on the 15 April. The changes came into effect on 1 May. Around 60 Unite members are to be impacted by the changes to long established contractual arrangements. In the event that these changes are not reversed then Unite will act to pursue claims for illegal deduction of wages.
Mark Lyon, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The imposition of detrimental changes to Unite members’ terms and conditions at Scottish Borders council will not go unopposed. The changes rip up all our long established contractual arrangements. If the council thinks that our members in the roads department are an easy target then it will have to think again because the strength of feeling is resolute. The council has a few weeks to get back round the negotiating table to undo the mess they have created or Unite members will be sending a loud and clear message to them very soon.”
ENDS
Unite in West Lothian Council 