Council staff at 20 local authorities across Scotland are set to go on strike for a further eight days next month over a pay dispute.
As the Daily Record reported earlier today talks are set to take place this afternoon after Deputy First Minister John Swinney invited unions and Cosla to St Andrews House in Edinburgh.
Despite "constructive talks" on Wednesday Unite has announced five new councils will join their colleagues on the picket line from September 6 to 13.
Unions and Cosla have failed to reach a pay agreement after a five per cent rise in wages was rejected. Staff at 13 councils, including Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee went on strike yesterday.
Waste workers from Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Fife and North Ayrshire will now take part in a second wave of strikes next month.
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.
Schools and early years services in Angus, Dundee, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, and South Lanarkshire will hit the picket line over three days between September 6, 7, 8 and 9. It will vary in each local authority.
Those taking industrial action will include administrative staff, cleaners, caterers, and classroom assistants.
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore said: "Unite will now deepen and spread our strike action across two thirds of the country. This is a direct response to the abject failure by both COSLA and the Scottish Government to fund a fair pay offer particularly for the lowest paid.
"It’s a disgrace that schools and early years services now face closure causing further disruption to families. The politicians need to get a grip of this situation which they have let happen due to their politicking and stalling.
"It’s time for the politicians to realise the gravity of this dispute and take responsibility before this situation dramatically escalates."
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 and West Lothian councils will all go on strike from August 24 to 31.
All 13 will join their colleagues in Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh Fife and North Ayrshire from September 8 to 13.
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.
GMB
GMB members from Aberdeen, Angus, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, Falkirk, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Highland, Midlothian, Orkney, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Perth and Kinross, and North Lanarkshire will hit the picket line from August 26 to 29 then again from September 7 to 10.
What are workers being offered?
Council umbrella organisation Cosla agreed to offer unions a rise of five per cent in wages. The hourly rate in Scotland will be raised to £10.50.
Its previous offer of 3.5 per cent was rejected.
What is the average refuse worker salary?
Bin workers across Scotland typically earn less than £25,000-a-year. While some employed in Scotland's biggest city Glasgow earn less than £20,000-per-year.
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