Union steps up council strikes

Refuse is not being collected in some areas

A new wave of strike action has been announced as about 70,000 local government workers in Scotland stage their third one-day stoppage over a pay dispute.

As rubbish piles up in some areas, the public services union Unison said it would be escalating the indefinite stoppage involving selected workers from 23 November.

This tactic is running alongside the series of one-day strikes, which have seriously disrupted council services.

Schools in some areas were closed on Thursday and housing, social work, public health and leisure services are also affected.

More than 700 workers are to be added to the 600-plus who have refused to work since 1 November.

Some services are seriously disrupted

Joe Di Paola, Unison's Scottish organiser for local government, said: "As we have had no movement from Cosla (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and only threats from councils, we have to respond by adding further groups to the indefinite strike action."

The union has rejected a 6.1% pay increase over two years, but local authorities say no more money is available.

Workers represented by the T&G and GMB unions have already accepted the improved offer.

In Midlothian, some 9,000 tonnes of rubbish remain uncollected as the strike by refuse collectors enters its third week.

In East Lothian, where similar action is being taken, thousands of wheelie bins are lying unemptied.

'Fair claim'

Unison spokesman Bill McAllister said: "I'm quite sure that the public will continue to recognise that we have a fair claim for a better wage increase.

"I am sure that we will continue to enjoy their support and I am sure that they will understand the position that we have been put in."

Finance Minister Angus MacKay said he would not be intervening in an attempt to settle the pay dispute.

Angus MacKay: "No intervention"

He announced a new three-year financial programme for local authorities, with an extra £1.2bn over the period.

But Mr MacKay also demanded that local authorities agree to set their council tax for three years - seen as a move to make councillors more accountable.

"The dispute has to be discussed and settled by Cosla (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) on the employers' side and by the representative trade unions on behalf of the employees of the local authorities," he told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme.

Unison began its strike campaign in August after rejecting a pay offer of 2.5%.

Cosla later increased the offer to 6.1% over two years, but that was also rejected.