Waste workers at 15 councils across Scotland are to walk-out over pay

Unite the Union has confirmed they'll be going on strike for the last week of August.

Author: Callum McQuadePublished 10th Aug 2022

Council waste workers at 15 local authorities across Scotland have confirmed they are going to stage a walk-out at the end of August over pay.

Members of Unite the Union will strike between 24-31 August in response to, what they call, a 'pitiful' 2 percent pay offer from local government body COSLA.

It means waste will pile up in Aberdeen City, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian.

"Unite will always defend the jobs, pay and conditions of members"

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members play a crucial role in keeping Scotland’s bins emptied and streets clean and they have had enough of the procrastination between COSLA and the Scottish Government that has led us to where we are now.

"Our members across all councils will receive the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved and a fair pay offer secured.

"Unite will always defend the jobs, pay and conditions of its members.

It follows the announcement last week that waste workers in Edinburgh are to hold industrial action later this month during the Fringe festival.

Unite regional officer Wendy Dunsmore said: “Council workers have had enough of sub-standard settlements and deserve a decent wage to sustain their families given the inflation predictions and soaring food and energy prices.

"The failure of both COSLA and the Scottish Government to work to bring an improved offer to the table that could have halted this action means any blame for where we are now should be directed back to them.

"Unite will not tolerate that local government workers are the consistent poor relations and members have now had enough.

"We are calling once again on COSLA to make a fair and decent offer to workers now in order to avoid the forthcoming wave of strikes.”

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