First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will personally intervene today in a bid to stop waves of strike action among council workers.
She will meet trade unions and council chiefs separately as schools prepare to close as a result of the dispute. The talks will take place at St Andrews House in Edinburgh.
Bin workers were the first to strike last month after discussions with council umbrella body COSLA failed to lead to an agreement. Both the 3.5 per cent and 5 per cent offers were rejected, as was a revised proposal which would have given a £1925 minimum to staff.
