Strike action across Forth Valley is set to continue as the largest local authority union UNISON indicated this week it is recommending rejection of the latest pay offer.
Bin men represented by UNISON at Stirling and Clackmannanshire were out on strike at the weekend - and more action is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7 to Saturday, September 10.
COSLA’s offer includes a minimum pay uplift of £1925, for a 37-hour working week with part of the payment consolidated into council workers ongoing pay, the rest via one-off payments.
Schools and nursery staff in Stirling and Clackmannanshire are also set to join binmen in strike action in the coming weeks.
On Monday UNISON confirmed that strikes will continue as they move to consult members on the latest pay offer.
UNISON will recommend its members vote to reject the offer in a consultative ballot in the coming days following a week of crisis talks.
UNISON Scotland head of local government Johanna Baxter said on Monday: “We welcome the contribution the Scottish Government have made to date and COSLA’s commitment to scrapping SSSC fees, their agreement to a one-off cost-of-living increase, and additional day’s leave.
“However as we have repeatedly told them both the size of the current cost envelope is simply not big enough to deliver a decent consolidated wage rise for the majority of our members.
“UNISON’s local government committee met this morning and confirmed that strike action will continue while we consult our members on this latest offer.
“Council workers are struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis after ten years of austerity.
“This is another pay cut they simply cannot afford, which is why we are recommending they reject the offer and continue with the action already planned to try to secure a bigger consolidated sum.”
COSLA has expressed disappointment at the union’s response, saying its offer was at the “absolute extremes” of affordability.
Resources spokesperson Katie Hagmann said: “This is already an offer which is stretching our already stretched finance like never before.
“We have done everything we possibly can to get to this stage and that this offer - which is still on the table - is as good as it gets.”
UNISON has confirmed that strike dates in waste and recycling, schools and early years, that have already been notified to the local authorities in which it has legal mandates will continue as planned during the period of consultation.
There was no bins uplift over the weekend in Clackmannanshire – and the Forthbank Recycling Centre in Alloa was also closed.
In Stirling the collection of grey, healthcare and brown bins is being prioritised up to Sunday, September 4.
Households due a collection for any of these bins should present them in the normal place and time and leave them out until they are emptied. Green and blue bins are not being collected up to Sunday, September 4.
Polmaise, Callander and Balfron recycling centres were all closed last weekend.
UNISON has sent notices to nine councils across Scotland - including Stirling and Clackmannanshire - that school and early years staff will be on strike on September 6, 7 and 8.
■ Forth Valley postal workers also started strike action last Friday, August 26.
The main Stirling delivery office at Springkerse was affected along with sub post offices at Dunblane, Callander and Lochearnhead.
Members of the Communication Workers Union – which represents Royal Mail Group workers – will be on strike again tomorrow (Wed) and Thursday September 8 and Friday September 9.
The decision follows the union’s recent ballot for strike action over pay, which saw members vote by 97.6% on a 77% turnout to take action. The union is demanding that Royal Mail Group make an adequate pay award that covers the current cost of living increases for its members.
