UNISON, the union which represents more than 1,000 workers at Scottish Water, where it is the largest union, has announced that staff will take strike action tomorrow and Wednesday 23 April.

The union say that emergency repairs and water quality checks will not be carried out during the action and that problems reported with water supply, sewage or drainage won’t be dealt with until the strike is over.

In an ongoing dispute over pay, the two-day walkout follows a one-day strike on 28 March.

UNISON says the offer from Scottish Water – a pay increase this year of 2.6% or £1,050, whichever is higher – fails to compensate staff for a decade of real-term pay cuts.

UNISON Scotland regional organiser Emma Phillips said:

“No one wants strike action. We have done everything we can to persuade Scottish Water senior managers to put a fair offer on the table, but they are refusing to be reasonable.

“Staff have suffered a decade of pay deals which haven’t kept up with inflation. They’re fed up with being underpaid and Scottish Water senior managers must start to see sense.”

UNISON’s strike ballot took place in February. There was a 69% turnout, with 65% of votes in favour of strike action.