Waste and recycling workers in Scotland have voted to go on strike during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of an ongoing pay dispute.
GMB Scotland’s members in waste services in 13 councils have achieved a mandate for strike action in their dispute with local government employers over pay.
The union says that a repeat of the 2022 strike action during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is likely this year unless the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) improves its pay offer.
COSLA has promised a 2.2% uplift from 1 April, with a further 2% increase taking effect from 1 October.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, Keir Greenaway said: ‘We hear time and time again that Scotland does public services better, but that’s not the case when the Conservatives down south have already beaten COSLA’s offer. If COSLA can’t do better, it’s time for them to bring the Scottish Government to the table to fund an improved offer.
‘If not, then it’s likely that the same disruption during 2022’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival will happen again this year. Hundreds of millions are poured into the city during the Fringe, but political leaders claim they can’t find enough money to value frontline service workers.’
A COSLA spokesperson said the association had made a 'strong offer at the limits of affordability for councils'.
They continued: 'In the context of lowering inflation and a “flat cash” budget settlement from Scottish Government, it remains important to reward our valued workforce appropriately. We urge our unions to reconsider their decision to reject the offer.
'We are disappointed that industrial action is now being planned by some of our trade unions in some council areas and concerned that it is to be targeted at waste services, once again raising potential public health risks.'
