The leader of Edinburgh City Council has urged COSLA, trade unions and the Scottish Government to resolve the ongoing pay dispute to ‘prevent significant disruption’ during the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Trade unions Unite and GMB today confirmed plans for strike action across the waste and cleansing service in the capital from 14–22 August, which will coincide with Edinburgh’s globally famous arts and culture festival.
‘I’m disappointed that negotiations between Scottish Government, COSLA and the unions have so far failed to avert this action across Scotland,’ said Cllr Cammy Day.
‘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.’
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) last week offered a 3.2% pay uplift at all pay points, for a one-year period of 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.
Unite has said the pay offer ‘grossly undervalues’ Scottish council workers in contrast with the offer made to UK counterparts.
The strikes are also set to affect 17 other local authority areas.
