Refuse workers strike looms for Caithness ahead of new bin rollout
A bin strike could bring disruption across Caithness after unions announced today that Highland Council will be hit by eight days of industrial action.
The announcement comes just ahead of controversial changes to waste and recycling collections by Highland Council which are soon due in Caithness.
The unions GMB Scotland, Unite, and Unison have all served formal notice of their intent for a walkout from 5am on Wednesday, August 14 until 4.59am on Thursday, August 22.
GMB Scotland formally served notice on councils across Scotland to expect eight days of industrial action by members in waste and recycling starting on August 14.
Bins will go unemptied from the smallest villages to the biggest cities, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, where the Fringe and International Festival starts this weekend.
The industrial action comes after pay talks with Cosla, representing Scotland’s councils, stalled. The Scottish Government joined negotiations yesterday (July 30).
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said a rejected pay offer of 3.2 per cent had failed to match the escalating cost of living or the rise offered to council workers in England and Wales.
He said: “We had constructive talks with the Scottish Government and Cosla yesterday but our members are less interested in constructive talks than fair pay.
“The process has gone on too long with too little progress. We are more than halfway through the year and there is no more time to waste discussing old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough.
“Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities identify the money needed to make an acceptable offer.
“These strikes will be disruptive to all the Scots who rely on our members' work but would not be necessary if councils had shown a greater urgency and sense of realism.”
Unison Scotland local government chair Colette Hunter added: "Strikes are always the last resort. But local government staff have seen the value of their wages reduced by a quarter over the past 14 years.
"They’re simply asking for a pay deal that recognises the essential services they deliver and starts to address years of below-inflation pay settlements.
"Cosla and the Scottish Government must understand the anger among council staff. They are resolute and strikes will go ahead unless a solution can be found."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: “Thousands of Unite members will take strike action next month unless there is a new credible pay offer put on the table.
The action will involve the following councils: Aberdeenshire; Aberdeen City; East Ayrshire; City of Edinburgh; East Dunbartonshire; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; and West Lothian.
Highland Council will be rolling out new non-recyclable grey waste bins across Caithness in September as part of the changes to its waste and recycling services.
The new grey bin is for non-recyclable waste and will be collected every two weeks. Current green (or grey) bins will be used to recycle mixed plastics, metals and food and drink cartons. Blue bins will be used to recycle paper, card and cardboard only. Each of the recycling bins will be collected every four weeks.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The Highland Council has been notified by GMB Scotland and Unite that waste services strikes are due to take place from Wednesday, 14 August at 5am and continue for 8 days.
“With dates now confirmed, the council will notify businesses and residents and we will seek to minimise any disruption, however we cannot guarantee there will not be an impact on service delivery.”
