Council workers have started a week-long strike over bullying and intimidation.

Over 100 workers, employed by South Ayrshire Council's Property & Maintenance department, are members of construction union UCATT and Unite and are employed in the council's Property & Maintenance department.

The dispute has been escalating since August 2013 and concerns the conduct of the council's Property Maintenance Manager William Andrew. There have been 37 separate complaints made against Mr Andrew concerning bullying, victimisation, goading and intimidation.

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The ballots for industrial action which saw a turnout of over 70 for both unions were conducted after the council's internal grievance procedure was exhausted. An investigation containing almost 1,000 pages resulted in the grievance being upheld in part and recommended that Mr Andrew attend a management course and be monitored for a three-month period.

A subsequent appeal was rejected by a panel of elected members.

Mr Andrew has remained in post throughout the investigation despite the trade unions request that Mr Andrew be suspended and that the complaints should be dealt with under the Council's Disciplinary procedures.

(CD/JP)