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Tayside, Fife and Stirling bin strikes: All you need to know including dates and impact

Industrial action is planned for eight days in August.

Overflowing bin in Reform Street, Dundee.
There could be more scenes like this in August if the bin strikes go ahead. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson

Bin strikes are set to hit Tayside, Fife and Stirling in a dispute over pay.

Council staff in are set to walk out for eight days in August unless a deal is struck.

Here is all we know so far about the planned bin strikes.

This article will be updated with the latest information as soon as it becomes available.


Which council areas are affected by the bin strikes?

Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Fife and Stirling are all affected by planned industrial action.

Union members are striking in the following areas:

  • Unite: Angus, Dundee and Fife
  • Unison: Fife, Perth and Kinross and Stirling
  • GMB: Fife, Perth and Kinross and Stirling

When will the bin strikes take place?

The bin strikes will take place between August 14 and August 21 2024.

Overflowing bins in Dundee during the 2022 strikes. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson

Which services will be affected?

The strikes will involve waste workers – including residential bin collectors – street cleaners and recycling centre operators.

Dundee City Council has told residents not to put their bins out during when workers take strike action.

Meanwhile, Fife Council has confirmed most bin collections in Fife will be suspended.

Additionally, recycling centres may be subject to closure during the walkout.

Piles of rubbish at a Dundee recycling point in 2022. Image: Bryan Copland/DC Tomson

Similar advice has been given to residents in Angus and in Perth and Kinross, where major disruption is also expected.

All bin collections in Stirling will be suspended during the action – with Stirling Council asking that residents do not put bins out for collection.

Disruption will continue after the industrial action when grey and brown bins will be prioritised.

Why are workers striking?

Members of unions Unison, Unite and GMB voted to reject a 3.2% pay rise tabled by council umbrella body Cosla earlier this month.

Union chiefs insist the strikes are a last resort but say local government staff have seen the value of their wages reduced by a quarter over the last 14 years.

Cosla says its offer is “at the limits of affordability for councils”.

Could the bin strikes be called off?

Yes. Ahead of the announcement of industrial action, Cosla met with trade unions and the Scottish Government.

The meeting was described as “constructive” with Unite welcoming the “positive talks”.

Bin collection could be affected if the strikes go ahead in Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Angus, Fife and Stirling
Bin collection could be affected if the strikes go ahead. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson

However, the union warned that a new “credible offer” must be tabled “imminently” to avoid industrial action.

The Scottish Government says it is committed to further negotiations.

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