Fife bin strikes suspended as unions consider new pay deal

Bin strikes across Fife that were due to start on Wednesday have been suspended.

Unions Unite, Unison and GMB were due to start action on Wednesday for eight days.

But after a meeting of its local government committee this morning, a ballot will now start on the new pay offer from COSLA.

It opens on Thursday and will close on September 5.

The new offer represents a minimum cash increase of £1,292 for the lowest paid council workers, which is equivalent to 5.2% for those earning around £25,000.

The Scottish local government living wage will also increase by 5.63%.

If they accept the offer it means council workers will be paid 67p more an hour, or 3.6%, and puts them above the offer made to other parts of the UK.

Graham McNab, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government said: “Unite members across all of Scotland’s councils should be applauded for standing firm. They have remained resolute in an effort to secure a fairer and better pay offer." 

“We believe that the new pay offer is credible. For the first time in years, it will mean all council workers receiving an above inflation increase."

“Unite will now suspend the eight days of strike action so a ballot can take place on the new offer.” 

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said: “This offer is a significant improvement on what came before but our members will decide if it is acceptable.

“It is better than that offered to council staff in England and Wales, would mean every worker receives a rise higher than the Retail Price Index and, importantly, is weighted to ensure frontline workers gain most.

“As a gesture of goodwill, we will suspend action until our members can vote on the offer.

“It should never have got to this stage, however, and Scotland’s council leaders have again shown an absolute lack of urgency or sense of realism.

“For months, we have been forced to waste time discussing a series of low-ball offers when it was already clear the Scottish Government needed to be at the table.

"The obvious reluctance of some council leaders to approach ministers has only caused needless uncertainty and threatened disruption.

“That is no way to run a railroad or conduct serious pay negotiations.”

UNISON Scotland local government lead David O’Connor said: “UNISON has suspended recycling and street cleansing strikes while staff are consulted on Cosla’s latest offer.

“UNISON’s view is that it’s still not enough. Council staff have seen the value of their pay reduced by 25% over the past 14 years and any pay deal needs to do more to reverse this.

“The union has been clear all along that the wage deal needs to work for everyone in local government. This pause will provide some breathing space for further dialogue.”