W S staff go on strike over E30-a-week
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• Clerical staff at Western Scottish have started a series of strikes in pursuit of a £30-aweek wage claim, following a management offer of £8. Now SBG clerical staff at Citylink, Highland and Midland, are being balloted for industrial action.
Western managing director Alan Wilson says that ACAS had volunteered its services, and a meeting will be held soon. "I am hopeful that this will resolve the dispute," he says, pointing out that Western has already settled wage claims with its engineers and inspectors. Transport and General Workers' Union official David McVie says that all of these companies are due to enter wage negotiations, but only Western has made an offer so far. "The majority of SBG's clerical employees earn just £5,700 a year," says McVie. "Most workers feel that, since their companies are due to be sold by next year, they have nothing to lose by taking action."
Industrial action is also looming at Eastern Scottish engineering where staff started an overtime ban in pursuit of a pay claim last weekend.