Workers at Wishaw Housing Association (HA) have begun four days of strikes in a dispute over pay and conditions.

A total of 14 staff are taking part in the industrial action, which will end on Friday, 30 September.

Union Unite said the Association is attempting to reduce workers' holiday entitlement from 29 to 25 days as well as increase the working week from 34.5 to 35 hours.

The union's regional officer, Gordon Casey, added the Association is acting against the advice of its employers' association - Employers in Voluntary Housing (EVH).

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"In 2014 our members had their pensions massively reduced. EVH said there should be a minimum two-year consultation period, but Wishaw HA pushed ahead regardless," he said.

"In that same year our members had to go through an incredibly stressful job evaluation process, and a number of posts were downgraded. But in 2015 EVH did an independent re-evaluation, and all of the posts bar one were put back to their original pay grade.

"In 2016 all of our members suffered a pay cut, with the largest cut being in excess of £3,000 per annum.

"On top of that there have been job cuts that have increased workloads for remaining staff, a reduction in bereavement allowance, and changes in rotas to allow the association's office to remain open at lunch time.

"Our members have been flexible and dealt with these massive changes with an open mind and with good will – but these latest cuts are the final straw for our members, and they are determined to resist them."

(LM)