Council worker strikes loom as unions reject pay offer

Unite and GMB have joined UNISON in rejecting the latest local government pay offer from COSLA. Council waste workers are now set to strike across much of Scotland, including in the Forth Valley.

Walkouts are expected to take place after all three major unions turned down the pay deal offered by COSLA last week, which included a 3.2% uplift for workers. The local government body previously said the "strong, fair and credible" offer was at the "absolute limit of affordability" for councils in Scotland.

UNISON members now have a mandate for strike action in Stirling and Clackmannanshire, GMB members in Stirling are also set to be involved in walkouts, while Unite's Falkirk members are now being re-balloted on strike action.

Union bosses are warning Scots to prepare for a "stinking Scottish summer" if walkouts do take place.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “COSLA has taken months to put a new offer to our local government membership, and it’s one that does absolutely nothing to address more than a decade of deep cuts to pay and services. 

“Unless COSLA and the Scottish government move quickly to make an acceptable offer then mountains of rubbish will pile up across the nation’s streets. The politicians have a choice, and one more chance, to resolve this pay dispute before strike action.” 

After UNISON rejected the offer on Friday, both Unite and GMB announced they are following suit this afternoon.

GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: “For COSLA to suggest this is a revised and improved offer only insults the intelligence of our members.

“It is merely a repackaging of the previous offer already rejected as too low and too late.

“It begs the question why more weeks have been squandered on this when time is running out to halt imminent industrial action?

“We continue to believe a joint approach seeking more funding from the Scottish Government remains the most likely route to a resolution.

“Council leaders must meet as a matter of urgency and agree to approach ministers.

“So far, unfortunately, it seems some leaders have preferred to protect relations with their party colleagues at Holyrood instead of urgently seeking a resolution to this dispute.

“Our members deserve better and Scots relying on the frontline services they deliver, and that is every one of us, deserve better too.”