Unison waste workers across Scotland to strike after rejecting new pay offer

Cleansing workers will push ahead with strike action after rejected a revised pay offer.

Cosla, which represents Scotland’s local authorities, proposed a 3.2% wage hike, backdated to April, which they said was a “strong, fair and credible” offer.

But Unison said in cash terms it is “no better than what was already on the table”.

The revised deal is slightly higher than the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy, which proposes a rise of 3% for 2024-25 – with Cosla stressing it is at the “absolute limit of affordability for councils, given the severe financial constraints local government is facing”.

The union says that waste, recycling and street cleaners in 13 councils in Scotland have voted to strike, and they will be balloting 38,000 school, early years and family centre staff next week.

The local authorities which have a mandate for strike action are Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, and West Lothian.

Unison Scotland local government lead David O’Connor said: “Cosla’s revised offer puts absolutely no more money on the table. They have not moved one iota since we advised them that we are preparing for strikes.

“At today’s talks (Friday) we told them local government staff are looking for a pay deal that addresses a cost-of-living crisis and that the value of their pay has dropped 25% over the past 14 years.”

Unison Scotland local government committee chair, Colette Hunter said: “Cosla have refused our offer to make joint representations to the Scottish government to discuss local government funding.

“We cannot go on like this. We are seeing year on year cuts to local services and we need to fix the serious recruitment and retention issues across local government. We know councils are struggling to recruit carers, social workers and school staff.

“These are the essential services we all rely on. Local government can no longer be neglected like this.”

Cosla has been contacted for comment.