Further 12 councils set for bin and school strikes as pay rise rejected

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

A further 12 councils are set to be hit by strike action in waste or school services as the latest pay offer is “rejected outright”.

Talks between the trade unions and the deputy first minister in Edinburgh took place on Wednesday night but despite being “constructive” there was no breakthrough.

Unite the union has announced waste worker members in five further council areas will walk out for eight days along with those in 14 local authorities already on strike.

Cleansing staff in Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Fife and North Ayrshire will now take part.

School and early years workers in a further seven councils are to join colleagues in walking out for three days next week.

Staff in Angus, Dundee, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, and South Lanarkshire will strike starting on September 6.

Council leaders are to meet with unions to continue talks on Thursday afternoon.

Will your council be hit by strikes?

Aberdeen

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Aberdeenshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison and Unite members balloted to strike.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

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

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Angus

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Members employed by Tayside Contracts to provide catering and janitorial services in schools represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Argyll and Bute

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

Clackmannanshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.

Waste services were due to be hit by strikes by workers represented by Unite starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31. However, this has been called off.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Schools workers represented by Unite balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Dumfries and Galloway

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

Dundee

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

East Ayrshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

East Dunbartonshire

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

East Lothian

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

East Renfrewshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members have balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

150 workers in schools represented by GMB will walk out on Tuesday, September 6, for three consecutive days.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Edinburgh

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

Waste workers in the capital began striking on Thursday, August 18, during the Edinburgh festivals. Industrial action is set to continue until the day following the end of the planned events on August 30.

Falkirk

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Fife

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

Glasgow

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

1,200 workers in schools represented by GMB will walk out on Tuesday, September 6, for three consecutive days.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Highland

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Inverclyde

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison and Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Midlothian

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

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

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members balloted to strike.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Orkney

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

Perth and Kinross

Schools may close after Unite members of Tayside Contracts which operates in Perth and Kinross balloted to strike.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

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

Waste services will be disrupted after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

South Lanarkshire

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison, GMB and Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Stirling

Waste services will be disrupted and schools will close after Unison members balloted to strike.

Cleansing workers represented by Unison will strike in two waves starting for four days on Friday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, September 7.

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

West Dunbartonshire

No strike action is currently planned.

West Lothian

Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite members balloted to strike.

All waste services will be hit by strikes as workers represented by Unite walk out for a week starting on Wednesday, August 24, through to August 31.

Cleansing staff who are members of GMB will take part in two four-day strikes from Friday, August 26, until Monday, August 29, and from Wednesday, September 7, until Saturday, September 10.

What does Cosla say?

COSLA resources spokesperson, councillor Katie Hagmann, said the body has “done everything possible” to put forward the best offer it can.

“As council leaders have said consistently – we absolutely value and are grateful to our workforce,” she said.

“We fully understand that our trade union colleagues want the best possible deal for their members – especially given the concerns many within our workforce have around the cost of living crisis we are currently facing.

“That is why we as employers have done everything possible to put the best offer we can to them in the context of the extremely challenging financial circumstances Scotland’s councils have been and are continuing to face.”

Previously the organisation said a new firm offer had been put to unions and it hoped they would consult their membership on it.

Scottish Government holds emergency talks with COSLA and unions

Deputy first minister and acting finance secretary John Swinney has urged local authority leaders to engage in talks to resolve the issue.

He met with both COSLA and the trade unions separately on Wednesday. Unite said the unions were told Swinney would engage with councils to “facilitate funding” but that this would not come directly from the Scottish Government.

Asked about the impact of the strike in Edinburgh, the deputy first minister said: “I think the condition of the city of Edinburgh just now is deeply concerning on a host of levels, not least in relation to public health.

“So I acknowledge the significance of the issue which is why I want to see the industrial action resolved, why I would prefer it didn’t spread to other parts of the country.”

He stressed the Scottish Government had already provided £140m to councils – with this cash helping fund the improved offer of 5%.

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