Hundreds of local government craftworkers will take strike action on Monday 2 June in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The workers who are members of construction union UCATT, are employed by 13 local authorities. They will hold a 24-hour stoppage. Further industrial action will then take place every other Monday until the dispute is resolved.

The dispute has been caused by Scottish local government employers only offering workers a below inflation pay rise of 2.45% in the 2007 pay round. Earlier this month UCATT members voted 2 to 1 in favour of strike action.

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UCATT are also aggrieved that some Scottish local authorities have failed to reduce the working week from 39 to 37 hours. It is these authorities that UCATT will initially target with industrial action.

Harry Frew Regional Secretary of UCATT Scotland, said: "Local government employers must realise that they cannot treat dedicated hardworking craftworkers with contempt. Industrial action is always a last resort but it has been forced on us because of the inflexible attitude of employers."

The local authorities where strike action will occur are: Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrhsire , North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling.

(CD/JM)