GRAVEDIGGERS at cemeteries across Glasgow are refusing to carry out burials during seven days of industrial action over the festive holidays.

A bitter pay dispute will see them strike on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay as well as enforcing a blanket overtime ban on another four days.

Industrial action means more than 30 gravediggers who serve 32 council-run cemeteries throughout Glasgow will refuse to carry out burials on December 24, 26, 29 and 31 as well as January 2, 3 and 5.

Union negotiator Martin Doran, of the GMB, today said: "The gravediggers realise this is a sensitive issue. They deeply regret any sorrow this may cause but feel they have been forced into taking action to protect their working conditions."

The dispute leaves just three days for burials over the festive season.

Normally four or five people on average are buried every day in Glasgow and it is thought that up to 35 families could be affected.

The gravediggers are the latest group of council workers to take industrial action in protest against a management-inspired pay and benefits scheme which has been enforced to tackle wage inequality.

Like other strikers, the gravediggers are furious at being told they face wage cuts of more than £2000.

Council chiefs have pledged to protect their existing pay rates until April, 2009, but the workers want the wage wrangle resolved sooner rather than later.

Mr Doran said: "They are very annoyed and quite frankly if industrial action is taken then there's every possibility there won't be any funerals held at any council cemetery."

The council admitted the gravediggers faced a pay "reduction" in two years but PR chief Colin Edgar said: "The union's attempt to make a difficult time even worse betrays a singular lack of compassion on their part."

"These staff members have lost not a penny of salary so far and we have put a proposal to them which will increase their income and enhance the service they deliver.

"Secondly, families in Glasgow will see no impact whatsoever on the level of service they can expect."