More bin strikes could hit city in run-up to Xmas

ASECOND wave of bin strikes could hit Scotland’s largest city in the run-up to Christmas after union members demanded a further ballot be held.

After a rally in George Square yesterday afternoon, which was attended by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Glasgow City Council cleansing workers demanded a fresh strike ballot against their employer over low pay.

The GMB has now warned it could mean a second wave of strikes could hit cleansing services in the run-up to Christmas.

Eight days of strike action which left rubbish uncollected while the eyes of the world were on Glasgow for COP26, was due to end at 11.59pm last night.

While the union secured commitments over some issues following negotiations with the city council over the weekend, including a review the value of pay for all workers on the lowest grades, the union said the council refused workers’ demands for a one-off “Glasgow Payment” for all workers on low grades to address the cost-of-living crisis.

GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: “Our members in cleansing, like so many of their colleagues in other services like home care, school support, parks and gardens, and Glasgow Life, are the backbone of the city’s workforce, but they are struggling on wages that simply do not make ends meet.

“It’s why our members have demanded a fresh ballot, which could mean a second wave of strikes in the run-up to Christmas. They want more to be done to properly value key workers and to tackle the significant service and workforce challenges facing their city.

“That’s something the council, COSLA and ultimately the Scottish Government should reflect on today, because it’s very clear this anger isn’t going away until these problems are confronted.”

Former Labour leader Corbyn stood shoulder to shoulder with the striking cleansing workers in Glasgow fighting for a better pay deal.

Corbyn joined workers who have been on strike for eight days, as the GMB union members continue their action into a second week.

He said supported the workers and “took his hat off to them” for the amazing job of educating the public about how important refuse collection is.

In a post on social media, MP Nadia Whittome said she was proud to join the picket line with Jeremy Corbyn and Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney.

The GMB was calling for a £2000 pay rise and had previously turned down an offer of an £850-a-year increase for staff earning up to £25,000.

The proposal from umbrella body, the Convention of Scottish

Local Authorities, which was suggested on Friday, was for a one-year, 5.89 per cent increase for the lowest paid council staff. This comes as part of a £1062 rise for all staff earning below £25,000.

The Scottish Government gave £30 million to support the offer.

Councillor Allan Casey, workforce convener, said yesterday: “The council leader and I have held a series of constructive meetings and discussions with GMB officials.

“We put forward an offer on Friday and updated it on Saturday. It is an offer which will improve local workforce relationships, bring unions more into decision making, provide training and support for a range of staff and offer overtime to deal with the backlog created by the strike.

“We also offered to look at whether lower graded staff require an interim arrangement, if it does not impact our equal pay commitments, until a new pay and grading scheme is in place.

“We await a response from the GMB about whether this offer has been accepted or not. The strike is due to end this evening [Monday] and the council will put in place a plan to recover from its impact.”