Union issues warning of waste piling up on Stirling streets as strike threat issued over pay

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A union representing waste workers has warned that rubbish could pile up in streets across Stirling unless members receive an improved pay offer.GMB Scotland has issued the threat after securing mandates for strike action across 13 local authority areas in Scotland - including Stirling - in an ongoing dispute over pay.The union has now called on council representative body COSLA to get back around the table for crunch talks and avert strike dates being proposed.Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, said: “Year after year, these talks have been needlessly drawn out.“That leaves our members – typically the lowest paid working on the frontline of our services – without the pay rise they need.

Inflation may be stabilising, but can anyone say they feel the difference?“Council leaders refuse to have meaningful talks – all while blocking the Scottish Government’s intervention to deliver a pay offer that matches our members’ value.

They are counting down the clock while our members go without.“We hear time and time again that Scotland does public services better, but that’s not the case when the Conservatives down south have already beaten COSLA’s offer.“If COSLA can’t do better, it’s time for them to bring the Scottish Government to the table to fund an improved offer.“Council leaders have wasted months and they’ve wasted opportunities.“Our members have no time for waste which is why rubbish will pile up in councils across Scotland if a suitable offer isn’t received.

We have no interest in political games when so many are struggling.”The union has claimed a current pay offer proposed by COSLA falls short of an offer made to waste workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and said workers north