Maintenance workers for Bear Scotland, the Inverness-based road maintenance firm, have secured pay rises of up to 7.25% after threatening strike action over wages.
The agreement marks the first time union Unite has secured a formal recognition agreement with the contractor, which looks after the A9 trunk route between Perth and Inverness - currently undergoing a £3.7bn Dualling programme due for completion by 2035.
Part of the successful deal was an acceleration of pay-grade timeframes, meaning that BEAR Scotland workers will now be able to reach higher pay levels over shorter periods.
Previously, workers rejected a pay offer that would have increased 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 have only increased by £1 per hour – including the highest grade, which would have risen from £13.25 to £14.25.
Unite industrial officer, Marc Jackson, said: ‘Unite is delighted to have successfully negotiated an improved wage offer from Bear Scotland which was overwhelmingly backed by our members.
‘The company has also voluntarily agreed to trade union recognition, giving our members a clear route to secure better pay, working hours and holidays in future.'
