Trade Union Latest: Scottish Water Statement
Scottish Water issued the following statement on Monday, 21 April 2025, ahead of planned industrial action from 00:01 on Tuesday, 22 April until 23:59 Wednesday, 23 April; 00:01 until 23:59 Friday, 2 May; and 00:01 until 23.59 Tuesday, 6 May.
Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s Chief Operating Officer, said:
“No-one benefits from industrial action and our focus is on continuing to deliver for our millions of customers across Scotland.
“Our above-inflation pay proposal is fair and progressive, prioritising the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades – money that should be in employees’ pockets now.
“We met with ACAS and the Trade Unions on 15 April to explore options to resolve the current dispute. Following that, we made a different, further improved proposal in an effort to reach an agreement.
“This is a good proposal and we are disappointed that union officials have not shared it with their members and given them the opportunity to vote on the offer in a ballot.
We urge the unions to get back round the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
The new Scottish Water pay proposal is a combined average value of around 7% of salary for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, well above inflation. Those in lower graded roles could receive total salary increases of almost 11% over this period.
All Scottish Water employees are also eligible for an annual out-performance bonus and the business recently reduced the working week to 35 hours from 37 hours previously.
During the strike action, contingency plans are in place to enable us to maintain normal services. Our advice to customers is to report any issues to us as they would do in normal circumstances.
Scottish Water’s model of being publicly owned, independently regulated and commercially run has helped it become one of the top performing utilities in the UK, delivering excellent customer satisfaction scores and some of the highest water quality standards in Europe.
Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s Chief Operating Officer, said:
“No-one benefits from industrial action and our focus is on continuing to deliver for our millions of customers across Scotland.
“Our above-inflation pay proposal is fair and progressive, prioritising the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades – money that should be in employees’ pockets now.
“We met with ACAS and the Trade Unions on 15 April to explore options to resolve the current dispute. Following that, we made a different, further improved proposal in an effort to reach an agreement.
“This is a good proposal and we are disappointed that union officials have not shared it with their members and given them the opportunity to vote on the offer in a ballot.
We urge the unions to get back round the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
The new Scottish Water pay proposal is a combined average value of around 7% of salary for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, well above inflation. Those in lower graded roles could receive total salary increases of almost 11% over this period.
All Scottish Water employees are also eligible for an annual out-performance bonus and the business recently reduced the working week to 35 hours from 37 hours previously.
During the strike action, contingency plans are in place to enable us to maintain normal services. Our advice to customers is to report any issues to us as they would do in normal circumstances.
Scottish Water’s model of being publicly owned, independently regulated and commercially run has helped it become one of the top performing utilities in the UK, delivering excellent customer satisfaction scores and some of the highest water quality standards in Europe.
