Council cleansing services resume across Scotland - but for 5 days only
Members of the Unite union end their strike action
Last updated 1st Sep 2022
Cleansing staff will return to work in Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, and a number of other council areas across Scotland today as the the first wave of strike action ends, but the relief could be shortlived with the next round of strikes due to begin on Tuesday (6th September).
Rubbish has piled up in the streets, and household waste has gone uncollected, as staff from the Unite, Unison and GMB unions walked out as part of a dispute over pay, and negotiations failed to reach an acceptable settlement for the unions.
Action coincided with a similar strike in Edinburgh that left the streets littered with rubbish during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Employees in the capital returned to work on Tuesday, while those in the other council areas affected - around two-thirds of local authorities in Scotland - returned on Thursday.
Rubbish backlog warning
However Glasgow City Council warned residents to expect a "significant delay to all collections" due to the "extensive backlog".
Aberdeen City Council also said there is a large backlog of work and warned "there may still be disruption to normal services".
Members of Unite have also been on strike since the 24th August in Angus, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Highland, Inverclyde, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
But the disruption is likely to return next week - and spread to schools - if a new offer is not accepted by the unions.
Unions want a flat-rate offer
The latest offer, made by local authority body Cosla on Monday, was rejected as unions urged Cosla to make a flat-rate pay offer as opposed to one based on a percentage increase to current wages.
According to the Scottish Government, the deal included a payment of at least £1,925 for council staff, with those earning £20,000 receiving £2,000.
But Unite said the payment could be as low as £989 for some employees, with 85% receiving between £1,925 and £2,000, and any payment would not be recurring.
READ MORE: Streets may have to be 'decontaminated'
Funding options 'exhausted'
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said all options in making more funding available amid the strikes have been "exhausted".
With the latest offer being turned down, waste workers look set to be joined by school support staff, including cleaners, caterers, janitors and pupil support assistants in action set to take place next week.
Hundreds of schools will close as a result of the action across the country for three days.
The scenes on Scotland's streets
Rubbish bins overflowing in the Grassmarket due to industrial action by Edinburgh council workers.
An overflowing bin can be seen outside the Waverley Market next to the station.
Rubbish pilling up in residential streets in Gorgie.
Tourists walk past overflowing bins, at the height of festival season in the Capital.
The sixth day of the Waste Service Strike has led to central Edinburgh becoming an unsanitary mess.
Rubbish bins overflowing outside Edinburgh Waverley.
Rubbish pilling up in residential streets in Gorgie.
Bins overflowing with rubbish are being taped up as they begin to overflow with waste, at the height of festival season.