A union boss has warned of a "winter of discontent" if a dispute over pay is not resolved after the latest round of talks failed to reach an agreement.
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, is urging the local authority body Cosla and the Scottish Government to get back round the table to end the planned strikes for next week.
Waste workers in Edinburgh returned to work today after walking out on August 18 in a dispute over pay. Huge piles of rubbish have accumulated in many streets with industrial action timed to coincide with the festival season.
Strikes in other areas end later this week, however another wave of industrial action in cleansing and education sectors will go ahead in many parts of the country next week after unions on Monday rejected the latest "unacceptable" offer from local authorities.
Hundreds of schools will close over three days as education staff, including early years, join the strike action.
Dunsmore was asked on Good Morning Scotland if the strikes could run into October and November if a deal isn't reached between the parties involved.
She replied: "Yes, we are absolutely resolute that this is going to be a winter of discontent and will escalate but we are hoping against all hope that the Scottish Government and Cosla will see sense and get back around the table with proper rise for the lowest paid within local authorities.
"There are no rounds of talks organised, as far as I'm aware, but we are urging the Scottish Government and Cosla to get back around the table and take part in meaningful negotiations. We will talk to anyone that will get this to an end, we'll go to any meeting, anytime, anywhere."
The Scottish Government has invited Cosla and union chiefs for talk this afternoon in a bid to resolve the lengthy dispute.
Talks between unions and Cosla ended on Monday with Unite's local government committee rejecting outright an offer, while the GMB Scotland union also turned the deal down. Unison said it would hold a consultative ballot of members this week on the offer, and would recommend they reject it.
According to the Scottish Government, the deal included a payment of at least £1,925 for council staff, with those earning £20,000 receiving £2,000.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said all options in making more funding available amid the strikes have been "exhausted".
She tweeted: "The new offer on the table from @COSLA is backed by a further £200m of @scotgov funding over this & next year. This ensures that the previous 5% offer is topped up to £1925 for all those earning below £39,000. For those earning £20,000 it delivers £2000, equivalent to 10%.
"I understand the pressures workers face which is why we have exhausted all options in last few days to make more funding available to support those on lowest incomes. If we could go further we would, but @scotgov budget is finite. I hope trade union members accept the offer."
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