Overview

• The two-day strike by Scottish Water workers, starting at midnight on Tuesday, follows a one-day walkout last month.
• Unison, representing over 1,000 employees, rejected a 2.6% pay offer, citing long-term wage stagnation, and has called for a fairer deal.
• Scottish Water proposed a 3.4% above-inflation pay increase, with the lowest-paid workers potentially receiving up to 5.5%, but the union has not accepted the offer.
• Essential services, including emergency repairs and water quality checks, will be suspended during the strike, though Scottish Water has activated contingency plans to maintain service.
• The strike highlights broader tensions in Scotland’s publicly owned water sector, which reinvests £800 million annually but faces infrastructure and environmental challenges.