Unite has stated that refuse workers in Edinburgh will continue with their 11 days of industrial action - meaning rubbish can not be collected until August 28.
Unite’s industrial officer, Alison Maclean, announced that the union has been unable to go back to their members on the offer of a five per cent pay rise from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). They say this is because the offer does not come with sufficient detail on what the five per cent deal would mean for their lowest paid members.
This means that the current round of strike action, which will also take place in 14 other councils across Scotland, will continue. Unite says that they need more information on the offer with specifics and guarantees - not ‘vague aspirational pledges’ - in order to be able to ballot their members.
READ MORE : We walked through Edinburgh to what state city is in on day three of the bin strike
The current strike, which began on Thursday August 19 in Edinburgh, has seen the city centre inundated with piles of litter. This comes at a time where the capital has welcomed thousands of tourists for the Festival Fringe.
Alison Maclean, said: "Unite’s local government committee has reaffirmed that the strike action ongoing in Edinburgh and scheduled to take place in a further 14 councils continues as planned. There remains insignificant detail on the 5 per cent pay offer, and what this in reality means for the lowest paid workers.
“At this moment the offer from COSLA remains a vague aspirational pledge but Unite can’t take anything to our wider membership unless we have specifics and guarantees. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow with COSLA and we will then reassess the situation.
“Our members have taken the brave stance of taking strike action to get the pay rise they deserve and we are determined to ensure that this happens.”
The current offer of a five per cent pay rise, would see the Scottish Local Government Living Wage climb to £10.50. But refuse workers say this is not enough to battle inflation that has hit a 40-year high with the price of food and fuel skyrocketing for the average worker.
They have staged protests and picket lines across various sites in Edinburgh including at the council waste depot at Seafield last Thursday 19. Videos and pictures have been widely circulated on social media showing piles of rubbish and litter strewn throughout city centre streets.
Many residents have also been left without residential pick-ups and council leaders have advised them to refrain from leaving bins out on the street as not to attract vermin.
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