John Swinney says Scottish Government doing 'all it can' to prevent summer bin strikes

First Minister John Swinney has said the Scottish Government is doing “all it can” to support local authorities in a bid to prevent strike action by cleansing workers.

Unison, Unite and GMB members from 18 local authorities are due to take part in the action from August 14 until August 22 which will see rubbish pile high during events such as the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

It comes after workers rejected the latest 3.2% pay offer from councils, claiming it failed to match the escalating cost of living.

GMB and Unite have said they will only suspend strike action if a fair and credible offer is tabled.

However, local authority body COSLA said the current offer is the “limit of affordability for councils” but that they would be working to find a resolution “as quickly as possible”.

Following the announcement of strike dates, Swinney said the Scottish Government would do “all that it can” to assist local authorities to avoid industrial action despite having no formal role in pay talks.

He told STV News: “We will look at every available opportunity to avert industrial action.

“Fundamentally there has to be open negotiation and dialogue between the local authorities and trade unions.

“The finance secretary met with both sides at the request of local government and trade unions.

“If there is more to do to foster an agreement we will certainly do that but there has to be an understanding of the gravity of the pressures we are facing in the public finances.

“They were in no way relieved by the announcements made by the Chancellor.”

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said talks with the Scottish Government and COSLA had been “constructive” but workers needed a fair pay deal.

“The process has gone on too long with too little progress. There is no more time to waste talking about old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough.

“Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities urgently identify the money needed to make a fair and acceptable offer.

“These strikes will be disruptive to all the Scots who rely on our members’ work but would not be necessary if councils had shown a greater urgency and sense of realism.”

COSLA’s spokesperson said local authorities had articulated the financial challenges facing councils in relation to meeting pay claims.

They added: “We are disappointed to hear that Unions have announced strike dates in some areas so soon after a constructive joint meeting with Scottish Government took place yesterday, and while negotiations are still ongoing.

“Our Trade Union partners are aware that considerable work is being done at pace to explore all options. We continue to re-iterate that with no new funding in place, the 3.2% offer is the limit of affordability for councils in the current challenging financial circumstances.

“We value our workforce and are working to find a resolution as quickly as possible.”

UNISON Scotland local government chair Colette Hunter said: “Strikes are always the last resort. But local government staff have seen the value of their wages reduced by a quarter over the past 14 years.

“They’re simply asking for a pay deal that recognises the essential services they deliver and starts to address years of below-inflation pay settlements.

“Cosla and the Scottish government must understand the anger among council staff. They are resolute and strikes will go ahead unless a solution can be found.”