MAINTENANCE staff with the region’s largest social landlord are set to take industrial action in a dispute over their terms and conditions.

It follows the failure of the trade union Unite and the Selkirk-based Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) to reach agreement, despite protracted negotiations involving the arbitration service ACAS.

On Saturday morning in Hawick’s Common Haugh a meeting of around 20 staff operating in the southeast of the region voted unanimously for an immediate ballot on industrial action.

And on Tuesday evening, employees in the west and central Borders were due to approve the same resolution at a meeting in the Abbotsford Hotel, Galashiels.

Notice of the decision to hold the ballot for industrial action, which could include a strike, is due to be formally given to the association later this week.

Earlier this month, a consultative ballot conducted by Unite showed that 63% of SBHA maintenance staff backed industrial action.

The dispute centres on a demand from SBHA, which has over 6,000 former council houses, that staff in its 95-strong maintenance division, of which the union claims 90% membership, should begin work “on site” at 8am.

At present the working day for the largely male trades workforce begins when they leave home at 8am.

The union claims the change would add an extra two-a-half unpaid hours to its members’ working week and would not be welcomed by tenants.

The proposal was among a raft of issues which saw union members pass a vote of no confidence in SBHA management in October last year and the issue remains unresolved.

“Our members see this as a gross and quite unnecessary imposition and attack on their dignity and respect,” said Tony Trench, Unite’s regional organiser, yesterday. “We have attended numerous talks involving ACAS and I’m sorry to say that management has remained totally intransigent on this key issue.” He said the current negotiated work practices had been agreed following the decision of SBHA to close its depots in Peebles, Kelso, Hawick and Galashiels.

And he criticised the association for not consulting with tenants.

“Our experience is that tenants, particularly the elderly, will not be happy to have workers arrive on their doorstep at 8am,” said Mr Trench.

Alan Vass, SBHA’s director of technical services, told the Border Telegraph this week: “We believe it is reasonable that our staff start work on site at 8am as this is standard industry practice.

“Our maintenance division has undergone considerable change in recent years with a strong focus on better services for tenants. We have always offered appointments [for tenants] from 8am and these have been based on tenant feedback.

“The division has made great strides in these areas and we will continue to implement change where it is needed to ensure its future growth, while at the same time ensuring a stable financial future and providing job security for our staff.

“Our door remains open to all staff and their representatives to discuss areas of concern.

“We look forward to working with Unite to make sure there continues to be an uninterrupted service for our customers.”