UNITE workers at Inverness have locked in a pay dispute with Bear Scotland, which maintains key trunk roads like the A9, and have overwhelmingly backed industrial action.

Despite the company raking in a £3.715 million profit last year, workers — responsible for the maintenance and safety of a lifeline trunk road network from Perth to Inverness and beyond — were offered a 75p increase in the hourly rate to £12.75 and £1 per hour more for the highest grades to £14.25.

The workers, who Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said “work every day in every type of weather, are being paid at an unacceptably low level,” rejected that offer, which stands well below the £16-an-hour local norm.

Announcing their overwhelming vote for industrial action, Unite industrial officer Marc Jackson said: “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.”

Bear Scotland was contacted for comment.