Waste workers could strike over pay row

If ballots for industrial action are successful, Unite says strike action could begin from next month - just as summer events get into full swing.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members undertake vital frontline jobs. Despite the essential work they do, they have seen their pay eroded for years. They are simply no longer prepared to tolerate this situation.

“The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish government have been warned they must do far more to meet the pay aspirations of our members. The blame for any strike action taking place will lie at their doors.

“We will back our members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions in local government.”

On May 24, Unite confirmed its local government representatives had rejected a formal pay offer from COSLA.

The offer comprised 2.2 per cent effective from April 1 to September 30, then two per cent from October 1 2024 to September 30 2025. Unite rejected the offer and the proposal to change the pay anniversary date from April to October on the basis it was nothing but an attempt to “kick the can down the road”.

The only councils not involved in Unite’s ballot process are Clackmannanshire, East Lothian and the Orkney Islands.

Graham McNab, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite has now served industrial action notices to nearly every council in Scotland. If the ballots are successful, our members in cleansing and waste services could begin strike action from July. Any action could impact on major summer events including the Edinburgh festival.

“Let’s be clear, COSLA and the Scottish government must come back to us with a significantly revised pay offer. If they do not, our members will have no option but to take action.”