MSP seeks Swinney help in wage levels campaign

LOTHIANS Labour MSP Neil Findlay has been promised a meeting with Finance Secretary John Swinney over a dispute involving electrical contractors who have been accused of trying to drive down wages and de-skill the sector by scrapping an industry-wide agreement.

Mr Finday raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions, urging Alex Salmond to take an “urgent personal interest” in the matter to avoid a crisis this winter in the already struggling construction industry.

Mr Salmond said: “Perhaps I can arrange a meeting between him – and any other representatives he wants to bring along – and Mr Swinney, to see whether there is anything the Scottish Government can do to facilitate a settlement of the potential dispute.”