COUNCIL waste and cleaning workers will strike for eight days across 18 Scottish authorities if no credible pay offer is tabled before August 14, Unite announced today.

The union warned that thousands of waste workers, street cleaners and recycling centre operators are set to stage their first wave of action from 5am on August 14 to 4.59am on August 22.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thousands of Unite members will take strike action next month unless there is a new credible pay offer put on the table.

“Our membership has waited months for an offer which reflects their professionalism and the dedication which they put into delivering vital local services.”

The current pay offer by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities amounts to a 3.2 per cent increase for a one-year period between April 1 2024 and March 31 2025, said Unite. It said this “grossly undervalues” Scottish council workers.

The strikes will affect councils in areas across Scotland including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.

A Cosla spokeswoman said it is “disappointed” by the announcement of strike dates and said the 3.2 per cent offer is the “limit of affordability” for councils.