BORDERS roads workers are set to strike over changes to their local authority terms and conditions.

Balloted members of the Unite union voted in favour of both strike action (86.4 percent) and action short of a strike (95.7 percent).

The workers claim Scottish Borders Council imposed cuts to pensionable overtime rates and removal of paid travel time in April without any consultation.

And union bosses will start organising strike days and other forms of industrial action from next month unless the changes are reversed.

Willie Thomson, Unite regional industrial officer, told us: “Scottish Borders Council’s behaviour towards our members in the Roads Department has been disgraceful.

"The council decision-makers seem more intent in targeting this group of hard working staff who have to brave all the elements, while at the same time being very relaxed and happy to agree exit packages for a number of individuals in management worth more than £100,000.

“The public in the Borders should be rightly asking why are our councillors and council officials ripping up long established contractual arrangements with roads department workers which cost a fraction of these exit packages.

"If the council think that our members are a soft touch then this strong mandate to proceed with strike action and action short of a strike should focus a few minds in the coming weeks. Unite will do everything we can to deliver fairness for this group of workers.”

Planned strikes are expected to take place on days from July through to October.