A dispute over pay has led to waste and recycling staff in half of Scotland’s councils voting to strike. The decision follows the rejection of a pay offer by Unite members in May. The union said that an offer from the local government body, Cosla, was significantly lower than the pay that workers deserved. The GMB has also confirmed that its members in waste services have voted to strike in 13 council areas.
The decision by both groups could impact the upcoming Edinburgh Festival, with strike dates expected to be revealed in the coming days. Two years ago, a bin strike that coincided with the event led to a large backlog of waste on the streets of the capital city.
Thousands of Unite members will take strike action in council areas including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. Cosla, however, has defended its pay offer, which would see a 2.2% increase from 1 April, followed by a 2% rise from 1 October. Unite industrial officer, Graham McNab, has called the offer “pitiful”.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, has expressed her support for “better jobs, pay and conditions across Scottish local government”. A Cosla spokesperson said that the organisation had made a strong offer “at the limits of affordability for councils”. The statement expressed disappointment that industrial action was being planned, which it stated could lead to “potential public health risks
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