UP TO 100 jobs are at “immediate risk” of redundancy at a major road maintenance contractor, trade union bosses have warned.
Unite said they have been informed by Amey that up to 100 members of staff currently employed on a road maintenance contract across Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire are at risk of being let go.
The contract is funded by Transport Scotland and directly supported by the Scottish Government.
Unite said they have asked Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop for action on what can be done to save roles.
David McGurk, Unite industrial officer, said those employed by Amey are “highly skilled” workers who are ensuring that Scotland’s infrastructure is safe and reliable.
He said: "Unite has been informed by Amey that up to 100 jobs are at immediate risk.
“The workers are currently employed on a road maintenance contract funded by Transport Scotland and directly supported by the Scottish Government across Dumfries and Galloway, and Ayrshire.
“Unite will do all we can to support these highly skilled workers who are ensuring that our nation’s infrastructure is safe, reliable and up to the highest possible standard.
“We have asked Fiona Hyslop, the cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure, for action from the government to ascertain what can be done to save these jobs including an immediate review of the contracts awarded to Amey.”
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “We have been made aware of the situation at Amey and are awaiting further details of the confidential process they are currently undertaking.
“It is essential that a robust level of service is maintained as part of our maintenance contract in the South West trunk road unit.”
An Amey spokesperson said: “Due to the changing needs in the delivery of the service we have reviewed the operational structure of the business.
"As a result, Amey has entered a 45-day consultation process with a number of employees on our South-West Scotland Network Management contract.
"A very small proportion of employees will be impacted with most of these achieved through the offer of voluntary redundancy.
"We will continue to deliver value for money services and will work closely with all affected employees and trade union representatives to ensure the consultation is fair, transparent, and supportive."
