Bin strikes to continue despite 'constructive talks' as John Swinney calls for 'dialogue' between unions and Cosla
The Deputy First Minister and acting Finance Secretary met with unions and the local government body on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the dispute.
Peter Davidson
Live Politics Editor
08:56, 25 AUG 2022
John Swinney has said "intense dialogue" needs to take place between unions and Cosla to end the current bin strikes across Scotland.
The Deputy First Minister and acting Finance Secretary met with unions and the local government body on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the dispute.
Both sides have failed to reach a deal on pay which led to bin workers in 13 local authorities, including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee, walking out for a seven-day strike on Wednesday.
Cosla 's five per cent offer has been rejected by unions. Following talks between the pair on the eve of the industrial action union bosses called for a meeting with the SNP minister.
John Swinney has said "intense dialogue" needs to take place between unions and Cosla to end the current bin strikes across Scotland.
The Deputy First Minister and acting Finance Secretary met with unions and the local government body on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the dispute.
Both sides have failed to reach a deal on pay which led to bin workers in 13 local authorities, including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee, walking out for a seven-day strike on Wednesday.
Cosla 's five per cent offer has been rejected by unions. Following talks between the pair on the eve of the industrial action union bosses called for a meeting with the SNP minister.
Swinney told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "There needs to be intense dialogue and negotiation between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ( Cosla ), as the employers and the trade unions.
"I encouraged that in meetings yesterday with the president of Cosla Cllr Shona Morrison who came to see me yesterday and we had a very constructive discussion in which I encouraged Cosla to enter into discussions with the unions."
Cleansing staff in Edinburgh have been out on strike since August 18, with the action timed to coincide with the summer festivals.
Festival goers have been met by mountains of rubbish with Swinney saying it was "deeply concerning" for public health.
Union chiefs welcomed the meeting with Swinney saying it will continue to work with him and Cosla in order to solve the dispute over pay.
"I encouraged that in meetings yesterday with the president of Cosla Cllr Shona Morrison who came to see me yesterday and we had a very constructive discussion in which I encouraged Cosla to enter into discussions with the unions."
Cleansing staff in Edinburgh have been out on strike since August 18, with the action timed to coincide with the summer festivals.
Festival goers have been met by mountains of rubbish with Swinney saying it was "deeply concerning" for public health.
Union chiefs welcomed the meeting with Swinney saying it will continue to work with him and Cosla in order to solve the dispute over pay.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney urged both sides to get together and negotiate (Image: PA)
Johanna Baxter, UNISON head of local government said: "We have held detailed constructive talks with Deputy First Minister this evening at St Andrews House.
"We welcome that he listened to UNISON concerns and was keen to explore how he could support getting council pay talks pay back on track.
"We were clear that we need to rethink not only the construction of the pay offer, so that those on the lowest incomes are fairly treated, we also need to explore ways in which we can increase the overall cash available to come to a fair offer.
"There was a general agreement that only two negotiating meetings in eight months on pay was not acceptable, and better processes need to be put in place to facilitate finding speedier solutions on pay.
"Although we do not have an offer today UNISON will continue to work with the Deputy First Minister and Cosla to find a way forward towards a solution that benefits all our members."
SCOTTISH POLITICS
Johanna Baxter, UNISON head of local government said: "We have held detailed constructive talks with Deputy First Minister this evening at St Andrews House.
"We welcome that he listened to UNISON concerns and was keen to explore how he could support getting council pay talks pay back on track.
"We were clear that we need to rethink not only the construction of the pay offer, so that those on the lowest incomes are fairly treated, we also need to explore ways in which we can increase the overall cash available to come to a fair offer.
"There was a general agreement that only two negotiating meetings in eight months on pay was not acceptable, and better processes need to be put in place to facilitate finding speedier solutions on pay.
"Although we do not have an offer today UNISON will continue to work with the Deputy First Minister and Cosla to find a way forward towards a solution that benefits all our members."
SCOTTISH POLITICS
While, Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, said: "Constructive talks have now finished involving the trade unions and the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney.
"The trade unions were informed that the DFM would now engage Cosla on a mechanism which could facilitate funding but that this would not come directly from the Scottish Government.
"It would include examining fiscal flexibilities and areas of ring-fenced funding. We acknowledge that this is movement but there is no new offer on the table and the strikes continue.
"The trade unions are requesting that the Scottish Government directly engage in these negotiations involving Cosla and ourselves in an effort to resolve this dispute."
When will strikes take place and which unions are taking industrial action?
Unite
Unite members from Aberdeen City, Angus, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian councils will all go on strike from August 24 to 31.
Unison
Unison members from Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Stirling and South Lanarkshire will walk out on August 26 to 29 then from September 7 to 10.
"The trade unions were informed that the DFM would now engage Cosla on a mechanism which could facilitate funding but that this would not come directly from the Scottish Government.
"It would include examining fiscal flexibilities and areas of ring-fenced funding. We acknowledge that this is movement but there is no new offer on the table and the strikes continue.
"The trade unions are requesting that the Scottish Government directly engage in these negotiations involving Cosla and ourselves in an effort to resolve this dispute."
When will strikes take place and which unions are taking industrial action?
Unite
Unite members from Aberdeen City, Angus, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian councils will all go on strike from August 24 to 31.
Unison
Unison members from Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Stirling and South Lanarkshire will walk out on August 26 to 29 then from September 7 to 10.
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