Waste recycling and street cleaning staff across Scotland have voted to strike in 14 councils in a dispute over pay, says UNISON today (Wednesday).
The pay dispute is over what UNISON says is an inadequate pay offer and affects all council workers in Scotland.
Employer organisation Cosla has made a two-stage offer, which covers an 18-month period. This would give a 2.2% increase for the first six months and an additional 2% for the subsequent 12 months, ending in September next year. This has been rejected by UNISON members.
UNISON Scotland head of local government David O’Connor said: “Council workers deserve a wage that reflects their essential roles. With over 95% of those voting saying they are ready to take industrial action, it demonstrates how they feel, not only about the pay offer, but how undervalued they are feeling generally.
“Next week the union is to ballot over 38,000 education staff. If they vote to strike, then schools will also be closing in September. Cosla and the Scottish government have to understand the anger amongst local government workers. They feel let down. The only way they can get government to listen is to threaten strike action.”
UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Colette Hunter said: “This is a significant vote. Large parts of Scotland are weeks away from bins not being collected and rubbish piling up in the streets. Council staff are angry about the way they’ve been treated over the last decade.
“No-one wants to go on strike, it is always a last resort. But, local government workers have firmly rejected Cosla’s offer. They are simply asking for a pay deal that addresses below-inflation pay settlements. These have reduced the value of staff wages by a quarter over the past 14 years. Cosla needs to get back around the table with us.”
Notes to editors:
-The official industrial action ballot closed today (Wednesday). Unions are required to get a 50% turnout for them to legally take strike action. The union says that the vote to strike was overwhelming.
– UNISON is the largest union in local government. Its members work in education, social care, NHS, police staff, utlitlies and energy.
– Councils where UNISON has a mandate for strike action are: Clackmannanshire Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, East Ayrshire Council, East Lothian Council, Fife Council, Glasgow City Council, Inverclyde Council, Midlothian Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Perth & Kinross Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Stirling Council, West Lothian Council and Cireco.