Waste, refuse and street cleaning staff in Scotland will go on strike over eight days in August, the largest local government union has announced.
UNISON confirmed on Wednesday that waste workers in 13 council areas will walk out between August 14 and 22, after rejecting a pay offer from Cosla, the local government employer organisation.
The union’s local government lead in Scotland, David O’Connor, said that employers and government will be forced to find a settlement.
He added that UNISON has been trying to get the pay issue resolved since the beginning of the year.
It rejected Cosla’s previous offer, which included a 2.2 percent increase for the first six months and an additional 2 percent for the subsequent 12 months. The offer was to end in September next year.
The union then moved to announce the nine-day strike action in August.
In response, Cosla issued a revised one-year pay offer of 3.2 precent for the period between April 2024 and end of March 2025.
Unions UNISON, United and GMB have all rejected the offer, which was deemed to “grossly undervalue” Scottish council workers in contrast offers made to their UK counterparts.
UNISON strikes will affect thirteen Scottish councils, including those in Glasgow, Fife, and Clackmannanshire.
Members of United and GMB will walk out in 18 council areas and will impact Edinburgh, during its busy summer festival period.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said that strike action will be “disruptive to all the Scots” and could have been avoided,” if councils had shown a “greater urgency and sense of realism.”
Unless an improved pay offer comes through, the unions have warned that rubbish will pile up in Scottish streets, backcourts and gardens.
They have also pointed out that waste workers have faced “years of below-inflation pay settlements” and need to see a pay deal that recognises their services.
Negotiations
The announcement of strike action follows joined discussions between unions, Cosla leader and Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison on Tuesday.The unions welcomed the “positive talks” but said they “come too late” to prevent strike notices being served.
“We had constructive talks with the Scottish Government and Cosla yesterday but our members are less interested in constructive talks than fair pay.
“The process has gone on too long with too little progress. There is no more time to waste on old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough.
“Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities identify the money needed to make an acceptable offer,” said O’Connor.
According to Robison, Holyrood officials will “work at pace with local government officers to understand what an improved negotiating envelope may look like.”
“I welcomed the willingness of Cosla and trade union leaders to engage constructively with that process,” Robison added.
The Scottish Conservatives have called on First Minister John Swinney to intervene in a bid to resolve the dispute.
The Scottish Conservative finance and local government spokesperson, Liz Smith has warned of a “public health risk as well as our streets looking like a tip during the Edinburgh Festival.”
However, according to Robison, the “Scottish Government has no formal role in local pay negotiations.”
She added that the UK’s public sector is facing a challenging period, with cuts being demanded across most of Whitehall.
