Unison waste workers across Scotland to strike over 'inadequate' pay offer

Scotland’s streets could see rubbish piling up this summer as waste recycling and street cleaning staff across the country have voted to strike in 14 council areas in a dispute over pay.

Unison said the pay dispute is over an “inadequate pay offer and affects all council workers in Scotland”.

Employer organisation Cosla has made a two-stage offer, which covers an 18-month period.

This would give a 2.2% increase for the first six months and an additional 2% for the subsequent 12 months, ending in September next year.

The offer has been rejected by Unison members.

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.

It comes before more than 38,000 council workers in schools and social care are due to vote in an official ballot over pay.

Unison Scotland head of local government David O’Connor said: “Council workers deserve a wage that reflects their essential roles. With over 95% of those voting saying they are ready to take industrial action, it demonstrates how they feel, not only about the pay offer, but how undervalued they are feeling generally.

“Next week the union is to ballot over 38,000 education staff. If they vote to strike, then schools will also be closing in September. Cosla and the Scottish Government have to understand the anger amongst local government workers. They feel let down. The only way they can get the government to listen is to threaten strike action.”

The union’s local government committee chair Colette Hunter added: “This is a significant vote. Large parts of Scotland are weeks away from bins not being collected and rubbish piling up in the streets. Council staff are angry about the way they’ve been treated over the last decade.

“No-one wants to go on strike, it is always a last resort. But, local government workers have firmly rejected Cosla’s offer. They are simply asking for a pay deal that addresses below-inflation pay settlements. These have reduced the value of staff wages by a quarter over the past 14 years. Cosla needs to get back around the table with us.”

A COSLA spokesperson said: “COSLA has made a strong pay offer for Scotland’s Local Government workforce. This offer is at the limit of affordability within the very constrained financial circumstances facing councils.

“We are disappointed that strike action is being considered in some areas, and are concerned about the detrimental impact this disruption would have on our people and communities.

“Dialogue with our Trade Unions, who have been comprehensively briefed on the financial circumstances councils are facing, is ongoing. We remain committed to reaching a resolution as quickly as possible.”