Union suspends planned bin strikes so members can vote on new pay offer

Cleansing staff belonging to the Unite union were due to strike for eight days from Wednesday.

Strikes by cleansing workers in recent years have resulted in piles of rubbish in the street (Lesley Martin/PA) (PA Archive)

Members of the Unite union will be balloted on a new offer for cleansing workers as the union has announced it will suspend planned strike action.

Staff were due to walk out for more than a week from Wednesday, but an eleventh hour offer from local authority body Cosla after the Scottish Government was able to offer extra funding.

The new offer – a 4.27% overall rise – will now be put to Unite members, with bosses from Unison and the GMB also discussing their response to the offer on Monday.

The deal is worth £1,292 for the lowest paid workers, while the Scottish local government living wage will also increase by 5.63%.

We believe that the new pay offer is credible. For the first time in years, it will mean all council workers receiving an above inflation increase

Graham McNab, Unison

Unite described the offer as “credible”.

The new terms came out of an emergency meeting of council leaders on Friday, after ministers said “additional funding” would be found for an improved pitch to workers.

Graham McNab, the union’s lead negotiator for local government, said: “Unite members across all of Scotland’s councils should be applauded for standing firm.

“They have remained resolute in an effort to secure a fairer and better pay offer.

“We believe that the new pay offer is credible. For the first time in years, it will mean all council workers receiving an above inflation increase.

“Unite will now suspend the eight days of strike action so a ballot can take place on the new offer.”

The strikes had caused worry across the 26 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities which were slated to face action, especially with the Edinburgh Festival underway.

Recent years have seen rubbish piling up on the streets of the capital as unions and councils struggled to agree to terms.

Cosla and the Scottish Government have been contacted for comment.