SCORES of council workers have started a week-long strike as a long-running dispute over allegations of bullying and intimidation comes to a head.
Around 100 workers at South Ayrshire Council have taken the action after claiming a manager who was the subject of dozens of complaints was allowed to remain in his post.
The striking staff are all employed within the council's property and maintenance department and say the dispute has been brewing since August 2013.
The union also names a property manager whose conduct is behind the action, claiming he has been the subject of 37 separate complaints "concerning bullying, victimisation, goading and intimidation".
The council has previously said any industrial action would "detrimentally affect the property maintenance service provided to council housing tenants".
It also claimed it did not recognise does not recognise the ballot undertaken by members of Unite the Union and the Union of Construction Trades, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT).
Both unions said the ballots were carried out after the council's internal grievance procedure was exhausted, claiming an investigation containing almost 1000 pages resulted in it being upheld in part as the manager was instructed to attend a management course and be monitored for a three months.
An appeal was rejected by a panel of elected members but the unions have expressed anger the manager was permitted to remain in his post throughout the investigation despite requests he be suspended.
Paul Bennett, regional organiser for UCATT Scotland, said: "Had the tables been reversed and the complaint was made against one of our craft workers, they would have been suspended. The fact this manager remained in post throughout restricted the investigation."
Harry Frew, UCATT Scotland regional secretary, said: "Our workers are taking strike action as a last resort as the council has totally failed to deal with very serious issues that are making their working lives intolerable.
"Bullying, victimisation and intimidation is never acceptable in any workplace and UCATT will fully support any of our members who are facing these problems at work."
The union added that, along with Unite, they attempted to avoid strike action and worked with conciliation service ACASe unions. But while their the case was put to over a 45 minute session they accused the council of "taking no more than four minutes to draw a close to conciliation".
David Burns, head of housing and facilities, said: "Our focus is on maintaining the delivery of services to the public, despite strike action by employees within our property maintenance section. We're disappointed the unions are taking this action.
"However, I'm pleased we can continue to provide a repairs service for our tenants and that will remain our focus at all times."
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