GMB Scotland confirms council bin strikes

GMB Scotland today confirmed bin strikes will begin within weeks.

The union formally served notice on councils across Scotland to expect eight days of industrial action by members in waste and recycling starting on August 14.

Bins will go unemptied from the smallest villages to the biggest cities, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, where the Fringe and International Festival starts this weekend.

The industrial action comes after pay talks with Cosla, representing Scotland’s councils, stalled. The Scottish Government joined discussions yesterday.

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said a rejected offer of 3.25% had failed to match the rising cost of living or the pay rise offered to council workers in England.

He said: “We had constructive talks with the Scottish Government and Cosla yesterday but our members are less interested in constructive talks than fair pay.

“The process has gone on too long with too little progress. There is no more time to waste on old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough.

“Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities identify the money needed to make an acceptable offer.

“These strikes will be disruptive to all the Scots who rely on our members' work but would not be necessary if councils had shown a greater urgency and sense of realism."

GMB Scotland members in waste and recycling will begin an eight-day strike in the following local authorities on 14 August 2024: Aberdeenshire; Aberdeen City; East Ayrshire; City of Edinburgh; East Dunbartonshire; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth & Kinross; Renfrewshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; and West Lothian.

The action will begin at 5am on Wednesday 14 August and end at 4.59am on Thursday 22 August.