Cleaners and caterers at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) are to strike over pay this month.
PCS union members working for OCS in East Kilbride are to take industrial action on September 18 and 19.
The workers will take two days’ strike action in an escalation of their dispute over pay, terms and conditions.
The strike by 11 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members employed by outsourced OCS in East Kilbride follows last week’s industrial action ballot that saw a 100 per cent ‘Yes’ vote on a 100 per cent turnout.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members continue to deliver key services to the FCDO but OCS’s continued refusal to recognise the challenges they face due to the company’s attempted driving down of pay, terms and conditions is completely unacceptable.
“This strike action is avoidable if OCS acts reasonably to table an offer reflecting the significant improvements to pay, terms and conditions that our members deserve.
“We continue to demand that the contract is insourced.”
The union is also demanding an increase to annual leave and the introduction of company sick pay for those who currently have no entitlement to contractual sick pay.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office told us that these staff members are employed by an external contractor and are not directly employed by the government.
The FCDO added that external contracts referenced are owned by the Government Property Agency “who encourage contractors and the union to cooperate” to resolve the dispute.
Lanarkshire Live has contacted the OCS for comment.
*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!