Unison members reject pay offer, risking bin strikes

Unison members, including bin and nursery workers, have overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer from Cosla, with 86% voting against it. The offer, which was accepted by the GMB union, included an hourly uplift of £0.67 or a 3.6% increase, whichever is higher. This rejection raises the possibility of strikes in several council areas, including Glasgow, Stirling, and Dumfries and Galloway, which could disrupt waste management and recycling services. The union argues that the pay offer does not meet the expectations of its members, especially considering a 25% real-terms pay cut over the past 14 years. Unison representatives have expressed that council workers are frustrated as their pay increases have not kept pace with other public service workers, many of whom received 5.5% raises. The union's local government committee plans to discuss the next steps in response to the rejection. Colette Hunter, chair of Unison Scotland's local government committee, emphasized the need for the Scottish Government and Cosla to recognize the anger among council staff. She stated that local government workers deserve a fair wage increase that aligns with other sectors of the economy. The union's leadership is calling for immediate action to address the ongoing crisis in local councils, which are struggling to recruit and retain staff due to low wages and increased workloads. The potential for industrial action looms as Unison has mandates for strikes across multiple councils. The situation highlights the urgent need for investment in local services and the workforce that supports them, as council workers continue to face unsustainable pressures in their roles.