A9 road maintenance workers back industrial action over pay dispute

Unite the union said the dispute centres on low pay for dozens of Bear Scotland workers based in Inverness who are key to the maintenance and safety of major roads in central Scotland and the Highlands, including the A9.

The pay offer takes the lowest hourly pay band up from £12 an hour to £12.75, while other key grades would rise by only one pound per hour, including the highest grade from £13.25 to £14.25.

According to Unite, similar maintenance workers at other local companies are paid up to £16.00 per hour.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members based in Inverness who work every day in every type of weather, are being paid at an unacceptably low level.

“Bear Scotland is a profitable company, and it can easily afford to pay our members a decent rate. We will back our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

Unite pointed to Bear Scotland’s latest accounts for the year ending 2024, which revealed a £3.715 million profit for the firm. The union also highlighted the A9 road maintenance works are primarily focused on the A9 Dualling programme between Perth and Inverness, which will convert the single carriageway to dual carriageway by 2035 at an estimated cost of £3.7 billion according to Transport Scotland.

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.”

The timing of any potential strike action has yet to be confirmed.