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Talks aim to avert water dispute Water staff call off dispute
(about 2 hours later)
Talks aimed at averting industrial action by Scottish Water staff are being held. Scottish Water has said industrial action by emergency stand-by staff has been averted following talks.
Management and union leaders are meeting in Edinburgh aiming to reach an agreement in the dispute over pay. Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions had threatened to remove cover from 1600 GMT until 5 January in the dispute over pay.
If no deal is made, members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions will refuse to provide emergency standby cover from 1600 GMT until 5 January. Workers would normally be on stand-by to deal with bursts, flooding and sewer failures, the unions said.
Workers would normally be on standby to deal with bursts, flooding and sewer failures, the unions said. Scottish Water said the dispute had been suspended after a compromise was reached at a meeting in Edinburgh.
Scottish Water said it would have contingency plans in place. The industrial action plan was announced on Tuesday following the breakdown of pay talks with senior managers.
Festive break
"We remain hopeful that we can reach some type of settlement but we're not there yet," said Unison's Dougie Black.
"We've taken the opportunity to explore where both sides are and we are hopeful that we can make progress."
A Scottish Water spokesman said all three unions would be at the meeting.
"Talks are ongoing at this stage," he added.
The action was announced on Tuesday following the breakdown of pay talks with senior managers.
Scottish Water said it had hoped an enhanced offer of 3.75% would provide a way forward in the dispute.Scottish Water said it had hoped an enhanced offer of 3.75% would provide a way forward in the dispute.
But Mr Black, regional organiser of Unison Scotland, insisted only 2% of the 3.75% figure was guaranteed.But Mr Black, regional organiser of Unison Scotland, insisted only 2% of the 3.75% figure was guaranteed.