UNISON confirms strike dates for waste workers in Aberdeenshire
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UNISON, the largest trade union in local government, have today served notice of strike action in eight local authorities.
The notices of action were served this morning to Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Stirling and South Lanarkshire councils for the first wave of strike action to take place on August 26 through to 29 and from September 7 through 10 inclusive.
These strike dates are part of a wider co-ordinated plan of industrial action by the three trade unions across local government following the recent conclusion of successful industrial action ballots. The dates that UNISON members in waste and recycling will walk out are the same as those chosen by the GMB for the same groups of workers.
UNISON will provide strike dates for schools and early years workers in due course.
The move comes on the day that COSLA Leaders meet to discuss the pay for local government workers again following additional funding provided by the Scottish Government last week.
Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government said: “This is the first wave of strike action which will only escalate if a significantly improved pay offer is not forthcoming.
"Strike dates for schools and early years workers will be confirmed in the coming days.
The responsibility for this action lies squarely with the Scottish Government and COSLA, neither of whom seem to have grasped the gravity of this situation.
Inflation is projected to be as high as 13 per cent, the cost of living crises is hitting people's pockets now and yet local government workers still only have a 2 per cent offer on the table, the lowest offer in the public sector.
They have had months to sort this out but all we seem to get is dither and delay.
Our understanding is that the money provided by the Scottish Government is half of what COSLA asked for and goes nowhere near matching the pay offer provided to council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
If this is true then the Scottish Government and COSLA need to get back round the table and come up with a better plan or services will stop.
The last thing UNISON members want is a strike but they have simply been left with no other option.”
An update is expected in due course on how this will affect waste sites and collections operated by Aberdeenshire Council.
