Talks between the Scottish Government and trade unions on the bin worker strike have again failed to lead to a breakthrough.
A source said the summit with Deputy First Minister John Swinney was helpful and further discussions are likely to take place.
Council bin workers have been striking over a failure by local authority chiefs and three trade unions - GMB, Unison and Unite - to reach a deal on pay.
A revised 5% offer, plus a special payment that would give every staff member a least £1925, was also knocked back on the grounds it is not generous enough to low paid workers.
With both sides not managing to resolve their differences, talks took place this afternoon between acting Finance Secretary John Swinney and the unions.
The Government has no formal role in the talks, but with Ministers providing councils with the bulk of their funding they have been on hand during the dispute.
It is understood no movement was made during the talks and the Government is now expected to speak to council umbrella group COSLA.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Service Keir Greenaway said:
“The message delivered on behalf of our members was clear: Do more for the lowest paid workers by delivering a flat rate offer for their consultation.
“The Deputy First Minister also reiterated his position that there is no more money to offer, but we were also clear the existing offer is not in the words of COSLA bosses, “as good as it gets”.
“It can be better for the lowest paid frontline workers in local government, if the offer puts more consolidated money into their salaries instead of the pockets of the highest paid.
“GMB hopes the Deputy First Minister carries that message to COSLA and we are giving COSLA chiefs every opportunity to do the right thing.”
The city’s waste workers walked out on August 18, but returned to work today in the Capital where huge piles of rubbish have accumulated.
The strike was timed to coincide with Edinburgh’s festival season, and spread to around two thirds of other council areas.
Strikes in other areas end later this week, but another wave of industrial action in cleansing and education sectors will go ahead in many parts of the country next week.
Hundreds of schools will close over three days as education staff, including early years, join the strike action.
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore warned that a “winter of discontent” lies ahead.
The union official told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “We are absolutely resolute that this is going to be a winter of discontent and it will escalate, but we are hoping against all hope that the Scottish Government and Cosla will see sense and get back round the table with a proper rise for the lowest paid within local authorities.
“Public Health Scotland previously warned the build-up of waste could become a risk to human health, and told councils that “decontamination of public areas where bins have overflowed may be required”.
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