Waste collectors and street cleaners across Scotland are engaged in industrial action, while the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place in Glasgow, with further action planned.
The strike, supported by the GMB Union, commenced on Monday (3 November) following an unresolved dispute between the trade body and Glasgow City Council.
Ongoing strike action (GMB)
Thousands of waste workers have committed to the boycott after an extended conflict surrounding what the union refers to as underpayment and poor working conditions. Initially, strike action seemed to have been averted, with The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) tabling an eleventh-hour pay offer on 29 October – a wage increase of 5.89 per cent, on top of a £1,062 raise for all employees earning under £25,000.
After talks to reconcile both sides, the offer was eventually dismissed by GMB, and on 31 October it notified Glasgow City Council that the city’s refuse staff would be striking for a week from Monday (1 November).
After three days of industrial action, today (3 November) climate activists and trade unionists have joined the picket line. GMB is now calling for the Scottish Government to intervene in order to put an end to the dispute, demanding a reversal of cuts to waste services as well as the recognition of refuse staff as key workers.
Speaking at the strike, GMB Scotland Secretary, Louise Gilmour, commented: “The council has failed to give our members the proper time and space to consider the 11th hour offer from COSLA, and the fact the council moved to block strike action in the Court of Session using anti-trade union legislation, means there is too much bad faith among members towards the employer.
“Therefore, our members in cleansing have informed us that they will still proceed with the planned strike action from 00.01 hours Monday 1 November. We are calling for an urgent meeting with the council as soon as possible and we will work until one-minute to midnight tonight to try and fix this.
“We have also made the Scottish Government aware of the situation and are liaising with the First Minister’s Office, but without any further dialogue the cleansing service in Glasgow City Council will take strike action from tomorrow and throughout the first full week of the COP26 summit.”
Sara Shaw, Climate Justice & Energy Programme Co-coordinator for Friends of the Earth International, added: “We are proud to stand alongside workers fighting for fair pay and decent working conditions. Refuse workers in Glasgow are demonstrating the power we must build everywhere to tackle the climate crisis at its roots.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “It is very disappointing GMB has gone back on their decision to suspend strike action while they consulted with their members on the national pay award agreed at COSLA.
“On Friday GMB indicated they would take two weeks to consider their members’ views on the national pay award and so there is no reason for this strike to go ahead at this time.
“Over the weekend we indicated to GMB they could meet at cleansing depots to discuss the national pay offer with their members so long there was no overall impact on the delivery of services.
"The purpose of this strike action is becoming increasingly unclear now that GMB has indicated they will wait until November 24 to ballot their membership on the national pay deal agreed at COSLA.”
Upcoming strike action (GMB and Unite)
In the wake of GMB strike action, nationwide Scotland has seen a surge in waste worker boycotts. Out of the 32 councils that comprise Scotland, 11 have documented recent industrial action amongst refuse and recycling workers, according to trade body Unite. Action shows no sign of slowing either. From the 8 - 12 November, waste collectors across Scotland who are members of Unite, or one of its constituent trade bodies, will take part in a service boycott.
Unite warns that action will only escalate, unless Cosla changes its stance in regards to demands regarding payment and working conditions. At present, Unite is insisting upon a £2,000 flat rate increase for all waste workers or, alternatively, a 6 per cent wage increase, depending on which is higher.
Unite strikes are expected in: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyle & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Moray, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.