Refuse workers are today beginning their 11 day long strike of bin collection in protest of the 3.5 per cent pay increase proposed by Edinburgh City Council.
Protestors gathered outside the Seafield Recycling Centre this evening after the industrial action began in the morning. The strike, organised by Unite and GMB, comes as unions representing council workers across Scotland threaten industrial action over pay.
The union rejected the formal offer from COSLA of a 3.5 per cent pay increase. At roughly 5am on Thursday morning, picket lines were formed at recycling and waste centres in Edinburgh and a protest was held outside the city chambers.
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At the Seafield Recycling Centre this evening, protestors were back out at the picket lines. Many of them say that they do not want to be put in the position of striking but as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, the proposed wage increase “would put a strain on anybody.”
The strike was attended by both members of the Unite and GMB union. As well as striking refuse workers, other members of the Unite union showed up in solidarity with the industrial action.
Wayne Ferguson, one of the strikers said: “You’ve got to come out and make a stand. We’re looking for a lot more than this because of inflation. 3.5 per cent increase, you’re talking about £20 a week or something. It’s not enough. Not in this day and age.
“I think it would put a strain on anybody. We’ve got to get a lot more than 3.5 per cent but we will see what happens.”
Another striker said: “The price of everything is going up. Wales and Ireland are getting 10 per cent or 11 per cent and we are fighting for 5 per cent. They offered us 3.5 per cent which is no good and 5 per cent is still a wage drop. We are here to stand by each other.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s not covering anything, especially with inflation. I drive a car so the fuel costs right away are hit. The price of gas, electricity, food, everything, so of course it’s going to affect us.
“We didn’t want to go on strike. We would rather be working but in these conditions you’ve got to stand by each other and make sure we get something. I’ve worked all my life, I prefer to work but if that’s what we’ve got to do, then that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Unite branch convener Graeme Smith said: "Staff are feeling very angry about the pay offer. We were being offered 2 per cent originally, which is an insult.
"Cosla then came back five months later and increased that to 3.5 per cent. Again, not something we could even consider taking to the members during the cost-of-living crisis. So there's a lot of anger.
"Inevitably, the waste will pile up. "There's a huge impact, it's a significant action for significant times. Members can't put food on the table. Come winter, they'll be choosing between heating and eating. So that's why we've been forced to take such dire measures."
William Wilson, who was at the strike representing GMB, said: “It’s time that every union should stand together to show that we are not going to lose this fight, we are going to keep fighting for the working people who deserve it.
“It sends a strong message out to everyone if we are all working together. We are stronger together and we are all here for the same thing: for the members and their families.”
Edinburgh City Council Leader, Cammy Day, said: “It’s now looking increasingly likely that industrial action will go ahead here in Edinburgh and in other cities across the country. Together with my fellow council leaders, I’ll continue to press the Scottish Government to resolve this as quickly as possible.
“I firmly believe that all council colleagues deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do and have every right to take this action and have their voices heard. As the lowest funded council in Scotland, it’s time for the Scottish Government to properly fund our Capital city and its services.
“I fully appreciate the impact this action will have on our city and we’re asking residents to be patient and work with us to help manage the inevitable impacts by planning ahead and following our advice. We’ve published tips on what to do with their waste and recycling and how they can help us to keep the city as clean as possible during and after the strike.”
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