Improved pay offer made to unions by COSLA in bid to halt pending bin strikes across Scotland

An improved pay offer has been put forward to unions representing refuse workers in a bid to halt bin strikes across Scotland.

Council leaders met on Friday morning where it was agreed that the “additional funding” identified by Scottish ministers would be used to negotiate with trade unions.

COSLA added it had increased its previous offer of 3.2% which was previously rejected by unions GMB Scotland, Unison and Unite.

Under the proposed deal, workers would receive at least a 3.6% uplift in pay, with the lowest paid seeing a 5.63% increase, amounting to £1,292.

COSLA said the overall offer value represents a 4.27% uplift.

The strikes could now be called off from Monday as representatives from the three unions discuss the offer with their local government committees.

If a revised offer is not accepted, refuse workers from 26 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities will walk out for eight days from 5am on Wednesday August 14 to 4.59am on Thursday August 22.

COSLA’s resources spokespeople Cllr Katie Hagmann said: “Having worked hard over the last week with Scottish Government to increase and guarantee additional funding, leaders are now in a position to make this improved offer to our trade unions.

“This offer reflects what trade unions have asked for and we hope that they will now be prepared to call off the strikes while they put that offer to their members.”

Finance and Local Government Secretary Shona Robison said: “Against an extremely challenging financial landscape, the Scottish Government has identified additional funding to support Cosla to make a strong offer.

“The enhanced envelope represents the absolute limit of affordability and has required difficult decision-making.

“In order to fund this offer, if it is accepted, the Scottish Government will have to move money from elsewhere in the budget and reduce funding for other programmes.

“These will be very painful choices and we will set them out publicly in due course.

“I welcome that Scotland’s council leaders have made a strong offer and we await the outcome of local government union considerations.”