"Improved" pay offer made to waste and recycling workers to halt strikes
Cleansing workers are due to walk out in 26 local authority areas next week
Council leaders have said they hope impending strikes by waste and recycling workers across much of Scotland will be called off after an "improved" pay offer was made.
The offer came after a special meeting of Cosla on Friday where it was agreed that "additional funding" found by Scottish ministers would be used to negotiate with trade unions.
Cosla is requesting that strike action is suspended while the offer of an overall rise of 4.27% is considered by unions.
It added that unions have been made aware of council leaders' concerns that the additional funding may be at risk if strikes go ahead.
If the revised offer is not accepted, refuse workers from 26 of Scotland's 32 local authorities will walk out for eight days from August 14.
Katie Hagmann, Cosla's resources spokeswoman, said she hoped the strikes would now be suspended while unions put the offer to their members.
"Having worked hard over the last week with Scottish Government to increase and guarantee additional funding, Leaders are now in a position to make this improved offer to our trade unions," she said.
"This offer reflects what trade unions have asked for and we hope that they will now be prepared to call off the strikes while they put that offer to their members."
A previous offer of 3.2% was rejected by GMB Scotland, Unison and Unite.
But, the new deal would see all local government workers receive a rise of least 3.6%, with the lowest-paid getting an extra 5.63%.
GMB Scotland said it would discuss the pay packet at its local government committee on Monday morning.
However, Keir Greenaway, senior organiser in public services, said the decision to accept the offer or any other will be taken by members, adding: "Our local government committee will meet to discuss the detail of the revised offer on Monday and, if it is potentially acceptable, will suspend our industrial action and ballot our members."
Earlier, Unison Scotland local government lead David O'Connor said: "It's very frustrating to be here, at the final hour again.
“We put our pay claim in at the beginning of the year.
"We welcome more money, and Unison Scotland's local government committee will consider any revised offer as soon as we can.
“But we must make sure any pay deal works for everyone in local government."