A UNION representing workers at Scottish Borders Housing Association is threatening a strike if changes are made to terms and conditions.

Unite this week issued an ultimatum to the board of SBHA.

And organisers claim the 70-strong maintenance and repairs workforce will fight the planned changes 'all the way'.

Unite regional industrial officer, Willie Thomson, told us: “Unite’s craft membership at SBHA are incandescent at the proposals to impose new contracts.

"If these changes are unchallenged then our skilled members who fix and maintain social housing in the Scottish Borders will lose their collective voice at work.

"We believe that these threats from SBHA management are a slap in the face to our hard working members, many of whom have given years of loyal service to their employer and SBHA tenants.

"Our members have made clear their opposition and resolve crystal clear, and they are prepared to fight this all the way.

"If an industrial action ballot is successful then the blame will lie squarely at the feet of the SBHA board.”

SBHA's board is due to meet this week to discuss the proposed new working arrangements.

In advance of the meeting Unite has written to all board members calling on them to have a rethink.

A spokeswoman for SBHA said: "Collective negotiations are ongoing and have been for more than two years, with the latest meeting having taken place on Friday involving the Unite Regional Industrial Officer. ACAS was also involved in earlier negotiations.

"It is therefore surprising to learn that Unite have made these statements. "There are three proposals on the table and Unite have been invited on several occasions to discuss these or put forward a workable alternative.

"SBHA is a charitable organisation and has a duty to provide our tenants with maximum value for money and to keep rents affordable, always. "There is a need to balance this ultimate responsibility with the desire to provide our employees with affordable, competitive packages that reward, retain and attract the best talent.

"SBHA’s working practices and pay structure were established in 2003 and are no longer fit-for-purpose for a modern organisation so we set out to update them to reflect how employment practices – and SBHA itself – have changed in the 17 years since.

"As collective negotiations are continuing SBHA hope that an agreed solution will be reached in the next few days."