WORKERS at the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) are being balloted for strike action after they “emphatically rejected” the offer of a “significant real-terms pay cut” today.

Despite the RPI rate of inflation standing at 4.8 per cent, the charity’s staff, including inspectors, veterinary teams and helpline workers, were offered a one-off payment of 2 per cent and a 1.6 per cent increase this year, with 2 per cent following in 2026.

The offer was rejected and the Unite union has launched a ballot of its 140 members in the SSPCA.

Industrial officer Billy Thomson said: “The work our SSPCA members do every day touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland and they deserve far better from their employer than a real-terms pay cut.

“Workers feel totally undervalued and utterly let down by management, which is why we have no option but to go for strikes.”

Warning that the charity was “currently managing a deficit,” an SSPCA spokesperson said: “Our priority remains the welfare of animals across Scotland and supporting our dedicated colleagues who deliver vital services every day.

“We remain committed to continued constructive discussions throughout this process.”