Bin strike dates: when rubbish will pile up on Scotland streets and what it means for Edinburgh's festivals

Overflowing bins were a common sight during previous strike action in Edinburgh in 2022 | National World

Rubbish is set to pile up on the streets of Edinburgh during the busy festival period after trade union leaders confirmed waste and refuse workers will strike for eight days in a dispute over pay.

Industrial action is due to take place from August 14 and will affect 26 out of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, including every major city. It comes after a 3.2 per cent pay offer was rejected.

Cosla, the council umbrella body, said it was working “at pace” in a bid to avoid walk-out, which is being organised by the GMB, Unison and Unite trade unions.

Unison, the largest local government union, confirmed staff in 13 council areas will join the protest, while the GMB and Unite trade unions plan strikes in 18 areas.

Cammy Day, the leader of Edinburgh Council, said “urgent progress needs to be made if we are to prevent significant disruption during one of the most important and enjoyable periods in Edinburgh’s calendar”. The councils due to be hit include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire and Fife. Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Perth & Kinross, Stirling, West Lothian, Aberdeenshire, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Highland, Orkney Islands, Renfrewshire and Angus will also all be hit by the strikes.

In 2022, a bin strike in Edinburgh during the festivals saw rubbish pile up in the city centre, with Public Health Scotland later issuing a health warning. The industrial action only ended when the Scottish Government provided extra funds.

Unison previously warned a “stinking Scottish summer looms” unless Cosla and the Scottish Government make more money available. Discussions involving Cosla, the unions and finance secretary Shona Robison took place on Tuesday, but failed to reach a breakthrough.

Unison Scotland local government leader David O’Connor said while the talks had been “positive”, they had taken place “too late to prevent strike notices being served”.

Collette Hunter, Unison Scotland’s local government chairwoman, said: “Strikes are always the last resort. But local government staff have seen the value of their wages reduced by a quarter over the past 14 years. They’re simply asking for a pay deal that recognises the essential services they deliver and starts to address years of below-inflation pay settlements.

“Cosla and the Scottish Government must understand the anger among council staff. They are resolute and strikes will go ahead unless a solution can be found.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thousands of Unite members will take strike action next month unless there is a new credible pay offer put on the table.”

Graham McNab, industrial officer with the union, said: “Unite stands ready to enter into meaningful negotiations at any time, but our members need to see a significant shift in the coming days to avert strike action. Strike action is not yet inevitable, but action from the politicians must be imminent.

“There is a window of opportunity to resolve this dispute, but the politicians should be under no illusions that our members will take strike action if necessary to secure the pay offer which they deserve.”

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said the rejected pay offer had failed to match the escalating cost of living or the rise offered to council workers in England and Wales.

He said: “We had constructive talks with the Scottish Government and Cosla yesterday, but our members are less interested in constructive talks than fair pay. The process has gone on too long with too little progress.

"We are more than halfway through the year and there is no more time to waste discussing old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough. Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities identify the money needed to make an acceptable offer.

“These strikes will be disruptive to all the Scots who rely on our members' work, but would not be necessary if councils had shown a greater urgency and sense of realism.”

Mr Day said he was “extremely concerned about the impact this will have on bin collections and street cleaning services, as well as the cleanliness of our city”, adding: “But I want to assure residents that we’ll be doing all we can to minimise any impact on essential services.

“We’ve published advice on our website for residents and businesses on how to safely and responsibly store their waste – and will continue to post updates as the situation develops. I’d ask residents to please share this information with any friends, family or neighbours who may not be online.

“We’ll also be writing out to businesses to encourage them to remind their customers that they can return their litter back to their premises for disposal, and to use reusable packaging where possible. We’re also working with our transport and hospitality partners to ensure visitors are aware of the strike and its impact on the city.

“I urge the Scottish Government and Cosla to stay round the table with the unions and find a way of averting, what will be, a hugely damaging dispute for Edinburgh – and for Scotland as a whole.” Councillor Katie Hagmann, Cosla’s resources spokeswoman, said the talks on Tuesday were “an open and honest dialogue about how challenging the situation is in relation to council finances”.

She said: “It remains understood by all parties that pay negotiations remain between Cosla [as the employer] and the trade unions. Whilst no immediate solution was identified, officers will now undertake further work at pace in the coming days to explore all options to avoid industrial action.”

Speaking after the talks, Ms Robison said her officials would now “work at pace with local government officers to understand what an improved negotiating envelope may look like”.

While the Scottish Conservatives are demanding First Minister John Swinney intervenes in a bid to resolve the dispute, Ms Robison stressed the Government had “no formal role in local pay negotiations”.