Scotland is on the brink of widespread bin strikes as waste and recycling staff in half of the country’s councils have voted to strike over pay disputes.
Unite, a prominent trade union, announced that members in 16 local authorities, including major cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen, are ready to take industrial action after rejecting a pay offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) in May.
Cosla proposed a two-stage pay increase, offering a 2.2% raise for the first six months and an additional 2% for the following 12 months, totalling a modest increment until September next year.
This offer has been deemed insufficient by the unions, with thousands of council workers voicing their dissatisfaction. Unison Scotland revealed that 91% of its members rejected the proposal in a recent consultation.
Unite’s mandate for strikes encompasses waste workers, street cleaners, and recycling center operators in 16 councils, with the potential for mass walkouts to begin in just over two weeks.
Meanwhile, the GMB union confirmed its members in waste services have also voted to strike in 13 council areas, adding to the mounting pressure on Cosla to reconsider its stance.
The ballot for industrial action continues until July 17, with unions remaining steadfast in their call for fair pay reflecting the crucial services provided by council workers.
The strikes come at a critical time, recalling the 12-day bin strike during the Edinburgh Festival two years ago, which left the city’s streets overflowing with waste.
Unison Scotland’s local government committee chair, Colette Hunter, expressed disappointment at reaching a strike ballot but emphasised that the current pay offer fails to reflect the essential roles of the workers.
Unison’s David O’Connor and GMB’s Keir Greenaway echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the inadequacy of the proposed pay increases compared to those offered in England and Wales.
Cosla has been urged to engage in further discussions to avoid the impending strikes that could see significant disruptions in waste management across Scotland.
The ballot for industrial action continues until July 17, with unions remaining steadfast in their call for fair pay reflecting the crucial services provided by council workers.
This developing situation underscores the growing unrest among public service workers in Scotland, with potential walkouts in August that could severely impact waste, recycling, and street cleaning services across the country.