As bin collection and street cleaning services restart once again in Edinburgh on Tuesday, locals will be feeling a sense of relief after the chaos of the last week.
The streets of the capital were piled high with waste as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe continued on amid all the rubbish littering. A huge clean up effort was underway to rid the capital of rubbish.
However, The City of Edinburgh Council are expecting the trade unions to call another strike in the coming weeks. Find out more about the next walk-out below.
READ MORE - Edinburgh bin collections resume as huge clear up begins across the city
When is the next bin strike?
The City of Edinburgh Council are expecting the trade unions to call another strike between 5am on Tuesday, September 6 2022 and 4.59am on Thursday, September 15 2022.
If this second strike goes ahead, there will be no bin collections or street cleaning during that time. Households are urged to prepare accordingly for these strikes, and to book appointments before heading to recycling centres to drop their waste off.
What are the waste workers striking over?
The strike in Edinburgh initially began after council leaders tabled a 3.5 per cent pay rise offer to over 150,000 staff. This number has risen to 5 per cent, after Scottish ministers added £140 million to the budget.
Unions have said that all staff should receive a flat-rate £3,000 increase in wages, as this will benefit the lowest paid more than the ones on the higher end of the spectrum.
A 5 per cent increase across the board means those on £80,000 will get a £4,000 increase, but those on £20,000 will only receive £1,000. The unions are appealing for a more proportionate wage rise for those on less money.
What has happened so far?
Discussions between the Scottish Government and council umbrella group Cosla have continued over the weekend, and are working on a potential new offer that will hopefully bring the dispute to a close.
A source has said that the Scottish Government is prepared to secure funding to offer Cosla's demands, of at least an extra £1,925 per worker. Officials also confirmed that there had been "constructive" conversations between the pair, and that council leaders are considering a "potential proposition".
There is yet to be a new offer tabled to waste workers, and if that decision doesn't happen before next week, the strikes will continue in the capital.
For more information on waste collection over the coming days, visit The City Of Edinburgh Councils website, here.
READ MORE
- Mum gobsmacked after neighbour takes photos of her home and posts them on Instagram
- Edinburgh property: Inside the 8 bedroom home on the market for £2.6 million
- Strictly Come Dancing's Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton expecting first baby
- Mum slams neighbour for 'demanding money' from her son after accident
- Edinburgh school nominated for 'Best Public School' in prestigious UK awards
