Road maintenance workers at BEAR Scotland in Inverness have backed industrial action over wages.
The industrial action could cause delays to key schemes including the A9 dualling project as well as wider Scottish road maintenance.
The employees of the joint venture between Breedon, Vinci Construction and Jacobs have rejected a pay offer that increases the lowest pay band from £12 an hour to £12.75, only £0.54 above the national minimum wage of £12.21.
Under this offer, other pay grades would increase by only £1 per hour – including the highest grade, which would go from £13.25 to £14.25.
Unite, the union for BEAR Scotland’s staff, said that similar maintenance workers at other local companies earn up to £16 per hour.
According to Unite, BEAR Scotland Limited, which is responsible for roughly 60% of the Scottish trunk road network, posted a profit of £3.7m in its latest accounts for the year ending 2024.
The Inverness unit of the business is responsible for the dualling of the A9 trunk road between Perth and Inverness with £3.7bn investment planned by 2035.
Unite industrial officer Marc Jackson said: ‘The workers are essential to one of the nation’s key transport infrastructure upgrades, yet they are being treated poorly by Bear Scotland and paid well below workers at other maintenance companies.
‘This cash rich company needs to get back round the negotiating table with an improved pay offer. If they don't heed this advice, then industrial action during the bad weather when these workers are needed the most will be inevitable and entirely BEAR Scotland's fault.’
A BEAR Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are fully aware of the concerns raised by roadworkers in our Inverness depot and are working closely with them to resolve these.
'We are disappointed that a small number of colleagues in Inverness have voted in favour of pursuing industrial action. We believe that the pay increase implemented in April 2025 is fair and competitive.
'We recognise the valuable contribution our roadworkers make and we remain open to constructive discussions with the union to reach a resolution.'
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