A union has announced a second eight-day bin strike – with Fife workers joining the industrial action next month.
Waste workers in 14 councils are currently on an eight-day strike, including Dundee and Angus, with staff in Perth and Kinross set to join on Friday.
Another eight-day strike has been announced by Unite the union, with another five councils – including Fife – joining the action from September 6 to 13.
Bin strikes extended to Fife
Unite members in schools and early years services across seven local authorities have announced overlapping three-day strikes.
This affects Dundee and Angus councils, as well as Tayside Contracts staff – including in Perth and Kinross – from September 7 to 9.
Fife will join Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire and North Ayrshire on the second phase of strike action.
Unite says it comes after “constructive” pay talks with Deputy First Minister John Swinney failed to end in a deal.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members across local government are taking strike action because the politicians have failed them miserably.
“We now plan to spread this action across 20 councils in education and waste services.
“For five months Cosla and the Scottish Government have dithered and bickered with each other while our members have increasingly faced a cost of living crisis.
“We will fully support them in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
No bins are being emptied in Dundee during the strike.
Angus and Perth and Kinross councils say they are attempting to collect as many bins as possible – but has warned locals there is still significant disruption.
It is not yet known what arrangements will be in place in Fife.
A 5% pay rise has already been refused.
Cosla claims its offer is “one of, if not the best, offer in decades for Scottish local government workers during some of the most trying times for councils”.
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