TRADE unions have confirmed that bin strikes will begin within weeks in council areas across Scotland.
GMB has formally served notice on 18 Scottish councils warning them to expect eight days of industrial action by its members working in waste collection and recycling starting on August 14.
It comes after Unison confirmed its refuse workers would be striking for nine days, also starting on August 14, on Tuesday.
Waste workers at another union, Unite, also voted against accepting a pay offer and announced strike action for the same period.
It comes after pay talks with local government body Cosla stalled.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison met with union leaders and Cosla on Tuesday, describing the talks as “productive” and stating that the Scottish Government is committed to further negotiation.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said a rejected pay offer of 3.2% had failed to match the escalating cost of living or the rise offered to council workers in England and Wales.
He said: “We had constructive talks with the Scottish Government and Cosla yesterday but our members are less interested in constructive talks than fair pay.
“The process has gone on too long with too little progress.
"We are more than halfway through the year and there is no more time to waste discussing old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough.
“Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities identify the money needed to make an acceptable offer.
“These strikes will be disruptive to all the Scots who rely on our members' work but would not be necessary if councils had shown a greater urgency and sense of realism.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thousands of Unite members will take strike action next month unless there is a new credible pay offer put on the table.
“Our membership has waited months for an offer which reflects their professionalism and the dedication which they put into delivering vital local services.”
The following council areas are set to be impacted by the action:
- Aberdeenshire
- Aberdeen City
- East Ayrshire
- City of Edinburgh
- East Dunbartonshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Glasgow
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Midlothian
- North Lanarkshire
- Orkney Islands
- Perth & Kinross
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Stirling
- West Lothian
It comes amid growing concern that piles of rubbish will impact the Edinburgh Festival in a repeat of scenes which occurred in 2022 following a similar row over pay.
