Members of Unite will hold 24 hours of industrial action later this month over a dispute relating to working conditions.

According to the union, the dispute follows a series of detrimental changes being imposed by the council to the terms and conditions of the union’s membership in the local authority’s roads department. The changes include a reduction in pension accrual as a result of cuts to pensionable overtime rates, and the removal of paid travel time, it said.

However, Scottish Borders Council has issued a response refuting what it calls the “assertions and serious allegations” made by Unite.

Chief executive Tracey Logan said: “Some of the allegations made by Unite in their recent press release about the planned strike by a small number of roads department staff on 29 August are absolutely unfounded and cannot be left unchallenged.

“The council has NOT changed terms and conditions for this staff group, nor have we failed to consult the Trades Unions or the staff affected. In fact, we discovered some months ago that a small number of staff in this section had been claiming a higher rate of overtime than they were entitled to under the agreed terms and conditions. They were also claiming for time to travel to work when working weekend overtime, which again is not in line with the agreement in place.

“Given that Unite agreed to these terms and conditions, I am surprised and disappointed that they now want some of their members to be given more favourable pay rates than others, and for this small group to be able to claim additional allowances that their other members cannot.

“It is a principle of fairness and equality for staff across the whole workforce and one which I would expect Unite as representatives of staff to uphold and commit to.”

Announcing the strike planned for August 29, Unite claimed that the council had “offered unlawful financial inducements” and was also “drafting in contracted workers” during the ongoing industrial action.

Ms Logan added: “The council has significant legal responsibilities in emergency situations as a Category One Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act.

“As such, the council took on board the concerns raised within this small group of roads department staff regarding standby commitments and had offered a voluntary option regarding contractual standby at an enhanced rate to them and their peers. This was offered to all appropriate staff, including those who plan to strike.

“All the trade unions were aware that this proposal was going to be offered to staff to ensure individuals’ work life balance was respected.

“After many years of positive relationships with the trade unions and the council, Unite representatives have made their unwillingness to participate in the collective bargaining process very clear on a number of occasions.

“However, we will continue to engage with the trade unions and are confident that our contingency plans are utilising all legal means to ensure that our day-to-day service is not significantly impacted. We can categorically state that no agency workers have, or will be, employed by the council within this department during the industrial action.”