Councils announce 'important' bin updates as first wave of strikes ends

Workers in schools, early years centres, nurseries and waste and recycling centres across Scotland take part in industrial action.

Councils announce ‘important’ bin updates as first wave of strikes endsKatie Lee Arrowsmith via SWNS

Councils across Scotland have announced changes to bin collection services on the final day of the first wave of strike action and ahead of more disruption next week.

Clean-up operations continue in Edinburgh and other local authorities following action ending earlier this week.

Waste workers in Glasgow and another 17 councils are set to return on Thursday.

But a second wave of strikes is set to see widespread closures of waste and recycling centres and cancellations of bin uplifts next week.

Bin workers begin to clean up overflowing bins and rubbish on Edinburgh's streets after the 12 day bin strike ends.Katie Lee Arrowsmith via SWNS

With only a matter of days before disruption restarts, councils have announced instructions for what to do with your bins.

City of Edinburgh Council said those due bin collections on Wednesday, August 30, will go ahead as normal.

Households expecting collections on Thursday and Friday, however, should put both their green and grey wheelie bins, and bagged extra waste, out by 6am on the day but leave them out until the end of Monday as there may be delays.

Food waste collections should be put out as usual, by 6am. But garden waste and blue box glass collections are suspended and should not be put out.

Bins overflowing in Glasgow amid strike action.STV News

In Glasgow, cleansing services are due to resume on Thursday, September 1, but only for five days.

Due to the “significant accumulations” of waste that require to be collected across the city, the council warned disruption and delays will continue for some time.

The council said it would be focusing on removing waste from “priority buildings” such as multi-storey flats, care homes and sheltered housing, clearing the build-up of waste from street litter bins and public recycling points.

Household Waste Recycling Centres will also reopen from September 1 to 5.

A household bin collection service will operate during this five-day period in line with the usual schedule but “it is likely to be subject to delays” and collections of the purple bin for glass have been suspended.

South Lanarkshire Council warned that when waste services resume on Thursday, any extra bags of rubbish placed next to bins will not be uplifted.

South Lanarkshire Council waste service collection dates.SLC

There will also be no food, garden or recycling collections anywhere in South Lanarkshire during this week.

Collections in South Ayrshire Council will be operational from Thursday, September 1.

Residents with scheduled green bin and food waste collections on Thursday and Friday have been told to put their bins out as normal and leave them out until 9pm on Monday due to the backlog.

Any residents who have missed a green bin collection during strike action should also put their green bin out on Thursday by 5.45am.

All grey bins, blue bins, glass, or brown bins will not be collected as these services remain suspended this week.

However, if you are scheduled for an uplift on Monday, you should put out these other bins, the council said.

A total of 19 councils will see workers walk out for eight days from Tuesday, September 6, while 20 local authorities will be hit for three days starting on Wednesday, September 7.

Additionally, 12 councils are to be hit by education and early years staff strikes next week several announcing that all nurseries, primaries and additional support for learning schools will close for three days.

Meanwhile, teachers in the EIS – Scotland’s largest teaching union – are to be asked if they back taking strike action.

Will your council be hit by strikes and when?

Aberdeen

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Aberdeenshire

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Tuesday, August 30.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unison’s second wave starts on September 7 for three days.

Angus

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Argyll and Bute

Unite members in the waste service balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Clackmannanshire

Waste services were due to be hit by strikes by workers represented by Unite starting on Wednesday, August 24, and ending on August 30. However, this was called off.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unison’s second wave starts on September 7 for three days.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

No waste strike action is currently planned.

Dumfries and Galloway

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

Dundee

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

East Ayrshire

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

East Dunbartonshire

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

East Lothian

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

East Renfrewshire

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by Unison ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and Unison members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Edinburgh

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Tuesday, August 30.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days.

Falkirk

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Fife

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

Glasgow

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB and Unison ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB and Unison members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Highland

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Inverclyde

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB and Unison ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB and Unison members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Midlothian

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Moray

No strike action is currently planned.

North Ayrshire

Waste staff represented by Unite will walk out for eight days on Tuesday, September 6, until, September 13.

North Lanarkshire

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when GMB and Unison members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Orkney

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Perth and Kinross

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Renfrewshire

Waste service and school workers represented by Unite and GMB balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Scottish Borders

No strike action is currently planned.

Shetland

No strike action is currently planned.

South Ayrshire

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

South Lanarkshire

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB and Unison ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB and Unison members walk out on September 7 for three days.

Stirling

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unison members walk out on September 7 for three days.

West Dunbartonshire

No strike action is currently planned.

West Lothian

The first wave of waste worker strike action comes to an end on Wednesday, August 31, when Unite members return.

It follows those represented by GMB ending industrial action on Monday, August 29.

But cleansing services will be disrupted again when Unite’s second wave starts on September 6 for eight days, and GMB members walk out on September 7 for three days.

What does COSLA say?

On Monday morning, unions recieved a new pay offer from COSLA but Unite, Unison and GMB rejected it.

Councillor Katie Hagmann, COSLA resources spokesperson said: “We remain in intense active discussions with our trade union colleagues.”

What does the Scottish Government say?

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