Housing association workers are striking for four days in a row over holiday cuts and an increased working week.

The Wishaw Housing Association workers are walking out from today for the rest of the week.

Unite said they were determined to protect their working conditions.

The strike is in response to a changes in holiday entitlement from 29 days to 25 days and an increase in the working week from 34.5 to 35 hours.

Unite said that the move is the latest in a series of attacks on the pay and conditions of workers.

Regional officer Gordon Casey said: “Wishaw Housing Association has not played fair with our members in recent years.

“In 2014 our members had their pensions massively reduced. Their employers' association - The Employers in Voluntary Housing - said there should be a minimum two-year consultation period, but Wishaw Housing Association pushed ahead regardless.

“In that same year, our members had to go through an incredibly stressful job evaluation process, and a number of posts were downgraded. But in 2015 EVH did an independent re-evaluation, and all of the posts bar one were put back to their original pay grade."

He said members suffered a pay cut this year, with the largest being £3,000.

He added: "On top of that, there have been job cuts that have increased workloads for remaining staff, a reduction in bereavement allowance, and changes in rotas to allow the association’s office to remain open at lunch time.

“Our members have been flexible and dealt with these massive changes with an open mind and with good will – but these latest cuts are the final straw for our members.”

Housing officers, senior staff customer services assistants, cleaners, maintenance assistants and accounts assistants will be taking part.

A previous ballot revealed that 100 per cent of Unite members voted to take strike action against the cuts.

Wishaw Housing Association was not available for comment.