AROUND 130 workers at Carntyne Transport are being balloted for strike action by Unite Scotland in a dispute over pay. 

Cask handlers, heavy goods vehicle (HGV), forklift and shunter drivers at the Springburn based logistics firm will be balloted in response to Carntyne Transport's refusal to improve upon its offered pay increase. 

The company is offering a £1.12 increase to HGV drivers which would take their hourly pay to £13.72, while On-Site Logistics (OSL) workers (cask handlers, forklift drivers and shunters) have been over a 16 pence increase to take their pay to £9.96 per hour. 

Unite's members are demanding £15 an hour for HGV drivers and a significant increase for OSL workers to reflect rising levels of pay and labour shortages across the industry in the UK. 

The ballot opens today and will close on December 15. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The fight at Carntyne Transport being led by our members is over decent pay and conditions, and they will have our full support in their campaign to drive-up standards. 

"Our members are simply fed-up at being treated with disrespect and they will no longer accept wage levels well below industry standards.

"This union is now focused on fighting for the jobs pay and conditions of our members and will do so at Carntyne Transport."

Carntyne Transport company accounts for 2020 show pre-tax profits of £3.98million, up from £2.88m in 2019. 

Linda Pollock-Wilson, Unite industrial officer, added: "The cask handlers, forklift drivers and shunters are being offered a paltry 16 pence an hour rise, which leaves their pay barely above the national minimum wage. 

"The HGV drivers are now being offered an increase which still leaves them below £14 per hour, yet drivers at other companies are paying drivers £20 per hour. 

"The company can afford to stop this dispute by paying our members the rate for the job, so they don't they do just that. 

"We are determined to improve the pay and conditions of our members in Carntyne Transport, and this strike ballot is only the first step in our fight."

The firm, which is part of the Russell group, employs around 300 workers but the strike ballot will cover an area of the business involving around 200 workers. 

Carntyne Transport has been approached for comment.