UNITE the union has confirmed strikes in education and waste services will now hit 20 councils across Scotland as a new wave of industrial action was announced.
On Tuesday, Unite said that its local government committee rejected the current 5% pay offer from Cosla.
Talks involving trade unions and the Deputy First Minister took place in Edinburgh on Wednesday and, although they were “constructive”, there was no breakthrough.
Members currently taking strike action in 14 councils will take another eight days action from September 6 to 13. A further five councils are set to join the second phase of strike action.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (below) said: “Unite’s members across local government are taking strike action because the politicians have failed them miserably.
“We now plan to spread the strike action across 20 councils in education and waster services.
“For five months Cosla and the Scottish Government have dithered and bickered with each other while our members have increasingly faced a cost-of-living crisis. We will fully support them in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore added: “Unite will now deepen and spread our strike action across two thirds of the country.
“This is a direct response to the abject failure by both Cosla and the Scottish Government to fund a fair pay offer, particularly for the lowest paid.
“It’s a disgrace that schools and early years services now face closure causing further disruption to families.
“The politicians need to get a grip of this situation which they have let happen due to their politicking and stalling.
“It’s time for the politicians to realise the gravity of this dispute and take responsibility before this situation dramatically escalates.”
Unite estimates that more than 2000 of its members will be involved in the action across Scotland.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Whilst the Scottish Government has no formal role in the negotiations, we continue to work collaboratively with COSLA and the trades unions and met them today for continued discussions.
“I welcome the commitment from all parties to continue talks to find a fair and sustainable settlement that will bring an end to the ongoing industrial action. I want to ensure an early resolution and that will only come about if there’s intense dialogue. The Scottish Government has facilitated that today.
“We are doing all we can within the resources available to us in the face of the cost of living emergency and have provided an extra £140 million on a recurring basis to support a higher pay award.
“All areas of the public sector are having to make challenging savings to stay within budget. The UK Government has cut the Scottish Government’s budget and not adjusted it for inflation, exacerbating the financial situation for both government and councils.”
The full list of dates Unite members are taking strike action can be seen below.
Where and when will Scotland be hit with bin strikes?
August 18 and ends on August 30: Edinburgh
August 24 to 31 (8 days action): Aberdeen City, Angus, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian.
September 6 to 13 (8 days action): Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Angus, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian.
Where and when are the schools strikes – 3 days action
September 6, 7, 8: East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire.
September 7, 8, 9: Angus Council, Dundee City and Tayside Contracts – served notice.
