More bin strikes start in 20 councils as school closures loom

Workers in schools, early years centres, nurseries and waste and recycling centres across Scotland take part in industrial action.

Bin strikes spread to a further six councils on Friday as pay talks continue between the Scottish Government, unions and local authority leaders.

Unison and GMB members in 20 local authorities began the first of two four-day strikes on August 26.

They joined workers represented by Unite who began a week-long strike in 14 councils on Wednesday.

Cleansing workers in Edinburgh are halfway through a two-week strike that has seen the city swamped by overflowing bins.

Deputy first minister John Swinney met unions and council body COSLA on Thursday afternoon but no breakthrough was made.

More than three quarters of councils will be impacted by strikes, with action now planned across education and waste services in 25 of the country’s 32 local authorities.

A total of 12 councils are expecting to be hit by education and early years staff strikes next month with Glasgow already announcing that all nurseries, primaries and additional support for learning schools will close for three days.

Meanwhile, teachers in the EIS – Scotland’s largest teaching union – are also to be asked if they back taking strike action.

Council leaders are to meet with unions to continue talks on Friday.

Will your council be hit by strikes?

Aberdeen

Waste services are being disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Aberdeenshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison and Unite members balloted to strike.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Angus

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Members employed by Tayside Contracts to provide catering and janitorial services in schools represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Argyll and Bute

Unite members in the waste service balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Clackmannanshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.

Waste services were due to be hit by strikes by workers represented by Unite starting on Wednesday, August 24, and ending on August 30. However, this has been called off.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Schools workers represented by Unite balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Dumfries and Galloway

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

Dundee

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

East Ayrshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

East Dunbartonshire

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

East Lothian

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

East Renfrewshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

150 workers in schools represented by GMB will walk out on Tuesday, September 6, for three consecutive days.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Edinburgh

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

Waste workers in the capital began striking on Thursday, August 18, during the Edinburgh festivals. Industrial action is set to continue until the day following the end of the planned events on August 30.

Falkirk

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Fife

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

Glasgow

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

1,200 workers in schools represented by GMB will walk out on Tuesday, September 6, for three consecutive days.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Highland

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Inverclyde

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison and Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Midlothian

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Moray

No strike action is currently planned.

North Ayrshire

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

North Lanarkshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members balloted to strike.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Orkney

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Perth and Kinross

Schools may close after Unite members of Tayside Contracts which operates in Perth and Kinross balloted to strike.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Renfrewshire

Waste service and school workers represented by Unite and GMB balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Scottish Borders

No strike action is currently planned.

Shetland

No strike action is currently planned.

South Ayrshire

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

South Lanarkshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Stirling

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison members balloted to strike.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

West Dunbartonshire

No strike action is currently planned.

West Lothian

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

What does Cosla say?

On Thursday, STV political editor Colin Mackay caught COSLA president Shona Morrison as she arrived for talks.

He asked her why COSLA was ignoring the rubbish piling up in Edinburgh.

“I think it’s fair to say we’re not ignoring, we’ve had a week of intensive meetings,” she said.

“My colleagues have been in meetings all week. You know, we’ve had long days of discussions in our negotiation spaces.

“We’re here today, we’re really happy to be sitting and having the opportunity with the Scottish Government, with our trade unions, to open discussions.

“We absolutely recognize the pressure that local governments are under, that the Scottish Government are under,and we’re here to seek solutions and look for a way forwards.”

COSLA resources spokesperson, councillor Katie Hagmann, said the body has “done everything possible” to put forward the best offer it can.

“We fully understand that our trade union colleagues want the best possible deal for their members – especially given the concerns many within our workforce have around the cost of living crisis we are currently facing,” she said.

“That is why we as employers have done everything possible to put the best offer we can to them in the context of the extremely challenging financial circumstances Scotland’s councils have been and are continuing to face.”

Previously the organisation said a new firm offer had been put to unions and it hoped they would consult their membership on it.

Scottish Government holds emergency talks with COSLA and unions

Deputy first minister and acting finance secretary John Swinney has urged local authority leaders to engage in talks to resolve the issue.

Swinney met unions and COSLA on Thursday afternoon after negotiations broke down on Wednesday.

But talks between unions and councils ended on Thursday night without any agreement.

Unite said the unions were told Swinney would engage with councils to “facilitate funding” but that this would not come directly from the Scottish Government.

Asked about the impact of the strike in Edinburgh, the deputy first minister said: “I think the condition of the city of Edinburgh just now is deeply concerning on a host of levels, not least in relation to public health.

“So I acknowledge the significance of the issue which is why I want to see the industrial action resolved, why I would prefer it didn’t spread to other parts of the country.”

He stressed the Scottish Government had already provided £140m to councils – with this cash helping fund the improved offer of 5%.

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