SCOTTISH WATER workers will begin a seven-day strike on Monday after its latest pay offer was rejected by Unite, Unison and GMB.

The action comes amid a fat cat pay row with unions pointing out that Scottish Water’s executive team were awarded £329,000 in bonuses and benefits in 2023/24.

This saw Scottish Water’s chief executive Alex Plant get £483,000 on top of his reported £246,000 salary, according to Unite.

Executive and non-executive members are also said to have benefited from remuneration packages worth a combined £1.15m up from £854,000 in 2023.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Scottish Water executives are short-changing their workers and the Scottish people while they laugh all the way to the bank with their eye-watering pay packages. 

“Our members will not be forced into accepting a pay offer which has barely moved an inch since October last year.

“Unite continues to stand with our members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at Scottish Water.”

The union warned that the industrial action will directly impact Scottish Water’s ability to respond to water leakages, flooding, pollution, and quality concerns. 

It is staging a protest at Glasgow's Shieldhall depot on Wednesday.

The latest rejected offer represented a £200 increase from the original offer made in October last year for the 2024/25 pay round and just £50 more for the following year, Unite said.

Scottish Water’s chief operating officer Peter Farrer said: “There is no need for next week’s industrial action to go ahead.

“Scottish Water has made a strong offer that is comfortably above inflation.

“It is now time for the unions to come forward with a proposal that is fair for workers, customers, and the future of the business.”