Unite delivers route to success for A9 road maintenance workers
Unite the union can confirm that Inverness based Bear Scotland maintenance workers who deliver services for major roads including the A9 trunk road from Perth to Inverness have secured union recognition and a wage win.
Unite secured a negotiated trade union recognition agreement with Bear Scotland in a historic first for the workers alongside delivering pay increases up to 7.25 per cent and improvements to standby payments.  
The union successfully managed to accelerate the pay grade timeframes for workers meaning that they will now reach higher pay levels over shorter periods of time.
The agreement brings the dispute to a close after the workers had overwhelmingly backed industrial action to secure a better pay deal.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite’s members working for Bear Scotland based in Inverness took a brave stand against their company by being prepared to take strike action if necessary. It has ultimately delivered not only a good pay deal but union recognition with Bear Scotland.”
“It’s a great example of Unite backing our members all the way to achieve better jobs, pay and conditions.”  
 
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 pay negotiations also lead to the company voluntarily agreeing to a trade union recognition agreement with Unite which will provide our members with a route to securing better pay, working hours, and holidays in the future.”
      
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries please contact Andrew Brady on 07810157922. Email andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org  
Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.