Renfrewshire bin workers will go on strike in a few weeks

Unite has confirmed that it has a mandate for members to take strike action in cleansing and waste services across half of Scottish councils, in a dispute over pay. 

A  total of 16 councils are involved including Renfrewshire Council, Glasgow City Council, East Renfrewshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council. 

Waste workers, street cleaners and recycling centre operators across the councils will strike and action could begin in just over two weeks' time. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “After years of cuts to council pay and services, years of chronic underfunding and understaffing, our membership is saying no more. Enough.

"They have Unite’s unequivocal support in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions across Scottish local government.” 

Unite confirmed back in May that its local government representatives had rejected outright a formal pay offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA). 

The offer comprises 2.2 per cent effective from April 1 to September 30, and then two per cent for a 12-month period effective from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.

Unite rejected the offer and the proposal to change the pay anniversary date from April to October on the basis that it is nothing but an attempt to 'kick down the road'. 

Graham McNab, Unite industrial officer, added: “Thousands of workers in cleansing and waste services are now on the brink of taking strike action in a matter of weeks. Our members are being left with no choice but to fight for fair pay.

“Council workers deserve to be treated with respect but instead they received a pitiful pay offer which was rejected outright by Unite.

"This situation is entirely in the hands of COSLA and the Scottish government who can resolve this dispute at any moment by making a significantly improved pay offer."

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the proposed action and continue to engage with the trade union in respect of this dispute."