Unions hope for new pay offer as garbage strikes loom

Unions are hoping to secure a new pay offer in an attempt to end next week’s garbage workers’ strikes.

Council leaders from across Scotland are due to discuss the pay dispute on Friday morning.

Garbage collectors and recycling workers from the three main municipal unions are expected to launch a series of strikes from August 14 to 22, affecting most of the country.

Unions rejected the latest pay offer, a 3.2% rise backdated to April, but on Thursday night Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish government had found more money for a “strong offer”.

Of Scotland’s 32 councils, 26 are affected by the plans. The dispute concerns the salaries of all council employees, except teachers.

Although the most recent wage offer is above the current rate of inflation, unions argue that this is insufficient to meet the rising cost of living over the past 12 months.

Council leaders will discuss the situation at an online meeting on Friday and unions hope to receive a new pay offer by the end of the day.

Talks took place on Wednesday between the Scottish Government, local authority Cosla and unions.

Once the unions receive a new offer, each will decide how to respond – but that may not happen until Monday.

Three major local authority unions are planning a programme of action: Unison, Unite and the GMB.

Ms Robison said the Scottish Government recognised the importance of supporting “meaningful dialogue” to achieve a fair pay deal and avoid industrial action.

“That’s why I’ve asked my officials to work at pace with local government officials to understand what an improved negotiating package might look like,” she said.

“All parties, including Cosla, trade union leaders and leaders of political groups, have engaged constructively in this process.

“In an extremely challenging financial environment, the Scottish Government has identified additional funding to help Cosla make a robust offer.”

She said the improved deal represented the “absolute limit of affordability” and had required “difficult decision-making”.

Ms Robison added: “I hope that Scottish council leaders can agree a solution at their meeting that will avoid strike action from next week, with a revised offer made to local government union members and accepted as soon as possible.”

Cosla resources spokeswoman, Councillor Katie Hagmann, said: “We have worked quickly and constructively with the Scottish Government to increase the funding available.

“Identifying this additional resource has been extremely challenging given the current financial environment and has required difficult decisions in some key policy areas.

“We hope that a revised and acceptable offer can be made as soon as possible.”

If a new wage offer is not presented by Monday, there appears little chance of stopping the strikes.

Parts of Scotland could see a repeat of scenes from the summer of 2022, when a strike by garbage workers in Edinburgh spread to other parts of the country.

The industrial action was only resolved thanks to the intervention of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

If a new offer is tabled, unions will want to consider it carefully before deciding on their course of action.

They would also ensure that any decision to cancel an action is properly communicated to their members.