'Waste will pile high' as Edinburgh cleansing workers begin strike
We're being warned that rubbish could 'pile high' throughout the rest of festival season as Edinburgh's cleansing workers begin striking this morning
Last updated 18th Aug 2022
Edinburgh's cleansing workers have commenced strike action, lasting until the end of the month.
It's as they fight for a better pay deal than the 3.5% offer currently on the table.
The Council say it'll cause "significant disruption" but the action is being supported by local authority Leader Cammy Day.
Council body COSLA say they'll need further funding from the Scottish Government to up their offer, but the First Minister has said that won't be happening.
Why are workers striking?
Members from both Unite and Union and GMB are joining the industrial action, and staff in other Councils around the country will join them next week.
They are asking for a better pay deal, just yesterday the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation measure rose to 10.1 per cent, days after COSLA chiefs offered staff a “a quantum equivalent of a 3.5 per cent increase” which was roundly rejected.
GMB Scotland Organiser Kirsten Muat warned:
“These strikes are a direct response to the failures of COSLA and the Scottish Government over the last six months to recognise the impact of this cost-of-living crisis on our members and to bring forward a pay offer worthy of their consultation.
“The 3.5 per cent tabled last week - a miserly lift on the previously rejected 2 per cent - is a pathetic response while our members struggle against double-digit inflation and energy bills rising to over £4,000 this winter."
Muat said that the strike today is "locked-in" but continued:
"if political leaders want to curtail its impact and avoid the prospect of more strikes across more councils in the weeks to come, then they must urgently make a significantly improved pay offer.”
Who needs to pay for a better offer?
Unions have claimed they are stuck in the middle between the Scottish Government and Cosla, with the two claiming the other has to produce the money to pay for better pay offers.
COSLA Resources Spokesperson Cllr Katie Hagmann said last Friday:
"Leaders continue to call on Scottish Government to provide funding and flexibilities to enable an offer beyond the monies provided to date.
"As such we will be seeking to make an improved offer via the appropriate negotiating mechanisms as soon as possible.”
But yesterday Nicola Sturgeon suggested the local authority umbrella body won't be seeing any more cash from Holyrood, and that it's down to the Councils to find the cash.
The First Minister said: "Just last week, the Scottish Government gave ÂŁ140 million additional funding to local government to help try to resolve pay claims.
"Therefore it's really disappointing, in my view, that local authorities haven't yet offered a decent 5% pay increase there.
"So I would call on local councils, we've put money on the table, to do your bit now so that we can resolve the issues."
What is the City of Edinburgh Council saying?
A picket will take place this morning right outside the City Chambers on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.
The local authority has warned the industrial action will cause "significant disruption" to residents.
It is anticipated that all bin collections and street cleaning will be affected. The city’s three recycling centres will be closed and bulky uplift and flytipping services will also be paused as a result of the action.
Commercial waste services for businesses are not collected by the Council and will continue as normal, as will street cleansing on the High Street and Mound Precinct, which are managed by the Fringe Society.
Council Leader Cammy Day said:
"I firmly believe that all council colleagues deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do and have every right to take this action and have their voices heard. As the lowest funded council in Scotland, it’s time for the Scottish Government to properly fund our Capital city and its services.
"I fully appreciate the impact this action will have on our city and we’re asking residents to be patient and work with us to help manage the inevitable impacts by planning ahead and following our advice. We’ve published tips on what to do with their waste and recycling and how they can help us to keep the city as clean as possible during and after the strike.
"We’re also reaching out to our tenants and housing associations, businesses, festivals and other partners asking them to share our messaging and provide whatever support they can during this busy and important time for our Capital city.
"We’re developing a detailed recovery plan so clean ups can begin and services can resume as quickly as possible after the strike."