SuppliedWaste will pile in Scotland’s cities and schools will shut, unions have warned, after thousands of council workers voted in favour of strike action.
The disruption is expected to go ahead later this summer unless an improved pay offer is tabled for local authority staff across the country in schools, early years centres, nurseries, and waste and recycling centres.
Members of the Unite, Unison and GMB unions were balloted in each of Scotland’s 32 councils in the face of what has been described as the biggest cost of living crisis in forty years.
Tens of thousands voted to reject the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) pay offer of 2%.
Unite confirmed 26 councils are now set to be hit by industrial action, Unison members in nine local authorities exceeded the required 50% turnout threshold required by the Trade Union Act, and workers represented by GMB voted for strikes in four cities and another council area.
Will your council be hit by strikes?
Izusek via iStockAberdeen
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members balloted to strike.
Aberdeenshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Angus
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.
Argyll and Bute
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
Clackmannanshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Schools may close after Unite members have balloted to strike.
Dumfries and Galloway
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
Dundee
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.
East Ayrshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite members have balloted to strike.
East Dunbartonshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite members have balloted to strike.
East Lothian
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
East Renfrewshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Edinburgh
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.
Falkirk
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
Fife
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
Glasgow
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison, GMB and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Highland
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
Inverclyde
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Midlothian
No strike action is currently planned.
Moray
No strike action is currently planned.
North Ayrshire
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
North Lanarkshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Orkney
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Perth and Kinross
Schools may close after Unite members of Tayside Contracts which operates in Perth and Kinross balloted to strike.
Renfrewshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite and GMB members have balloted to strike.
Scottish Borders
No strike action is currently planned.
Shetland
No strike action is currently planned.
South Ayrshire
Waste services will be disrupted after Unite members have balloted to strike.
South Lanarkshire
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison and Unite members have balloted to strike.
Stirling
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unison members have balloted to strike.
West Dunbartonshire
No strike action is currently planned.
West Lothian
Waste services will be disrupted and schools may close after Unite members have balloted to strike.
What does Cosla say?
A Cosla spokesperson said: “Cosla leaders are clear that they value hugely the local government workforce, which is why discussions with our trade union colleagues continue, in order to reach an agreement and avoid strike action.
“As employers we have a responsibility to ensure that any pay deal offered is both sustainable and affordable and that is why we are unable to go beyond the current offer at this point. As mandated by Leaders, we are currently in discussions with Scottish Government and await their response to leaders’ request for additional funding.”
Scottish Government exploring ‘all options’ to avoid strikes
The Scottish Government is exploring “all options” with Cosla to find a solution to the pay dispute with council workers.
A spokesperson said: “Ministers note and respect the results of the local government industrial action ballots. Local government workers play a crucial role in our communities and are integral to our recovery from the pandemic.
“Although the Scottish Government has no formal role in the national local government pay negotiations, both the government and Cosla are working to jointly explore all of the options available to find solutions.
“In the meantime, the Scottish Government urges all parties to continue dialogue and seek a resolution which avoids industrial action.”
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