By Ena Saracevic

Copyright scotsman

A major Scottish road could be set for travel disruption as maintenance workers overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a dispute over low pay. Unite the Union have said that many major roads, including the A9 Perth to Inverness trunk road, are set to face disruption after dozens of Bear Scotland employees have rejected the company’s latest pay offer. The offer would see the lowest hourly rate rise from £12 to £12.75, while other key grades would increase by just £1 per hour, including the highest band from £13.25 to £14.25. The dispute centres on low pay for dozens of Bear Scotland workers based in Inverness who are key to the maintenance and safety of major roads in central Scotland and the Highlands including the A9. Make sure you keep up to date with news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members based in Inverness who work every day in every type of weather, are being paid at an unacceptably low level. “Bear Scotland is a profitable company, and it can easily afford to pay our members a decent rate. We will back our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.” Unite mentioned that Bear Scotland Limited in its latest accounts for the year ending 2024 posted a £3.715m profit. The union also pointed to the company being a key contractor on the £3.7bn A9 Dualling Programme, a long-term upgrade scheduled for completion by 2035. Unite industrial officer Marc Jackson said: “The workers are essential to one of the nation’s key transport infrastructure upgrades, yet they are being treated poorly by Bear Scotland and paid well below workers at other maintenance companies. “This cash rich company needs to get back round the negotiating table with an improved pay offer. If they don’t heed this advice, then industrial action during the bad weather when these workers are needed the most will be inevitable and entirely Bear Scotland’s fault.” Transport Scotland and Bear Scotland have been approached for comment. The timing of any potential strike action has yet to be confirmed.