John Swinney to hold urgent bin strikes summit with council bosses and trade unions

Deputy first minister John Swinney is to hold an emergency summit with council leaders and trade unions as waste workers strike across more than a dozen local authorities, STV News understands.

Representatives from three unions will meet with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) leadership, and the acting finance secretary Swinney on Wednesday.

It comes amid increasing pressure on the Scottish Government to take action as thousands of council workers across the country go on strike.

Members of the Unite, Unison and GMB unions in 21 councils have planned industrial action in the face of what has been described as the biggest cost of living crisis in forty years.

The disruption, already under way in Edinburgh and 14 other local authorities as of Wednesday, will see staff in schools, early years centres, nurseries, and waste and recycling centres walk out.

STV News understand that the unions are waiting on confirmation of when the urgent summit with Swinney will take place on Wednesday after an improved pay offer of 5% was rejected.

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After an improved deal of 5% was tabled and talks were held with council leaders on Tuesday, unions announced no progress had been made and industrial action would go ahead.