‘Can’t guarantee bin strikes won’t impact homes and businesses’, Highland Council warns
Bin strikes could impact collections from homes and businesses in the Highlands, the local council has warned after unions announced an eight-day walkout.
GMB Scotland, Unison and Unite all confirmed that their members intend to strike from August 14 to 22 after pay talks stalled with Cosla, the body which represents all of Scotland's local authorities.
Although the unions said talks involving the Scottish Government were "positive" yesterday, they have warned that, as things stand, they will down tools on August 14 unless existing 3.2 per cent pay offers are improved.
Highland Council has vowed to try to minimise any disruption to its bin collections, but has now warned that it "cannot guarantee there will not be an impact" in the region.
This is likely to prompt concern among residents and businesses, with recent ongoing changes to increase domestic recycling bin numbers meaning that some collections are already now just once a month - and uncertainty likely to grow over what happens if one of those collections is missed due to the imminent strikes.
Responding to the planned strikes, a Highland Council spokesperson said: “The Highland Council has been notified by GMB Scotland and Unite that waste services strikes are due to take place from Wednesday, 14 August at 5am and continue for eight days.
"With dates now confirmed, the Council will notify businesses and residents and we will seek to minimise any disruption, however we cannot guarantee there will not be an impact on service delivery.”
READ MORE: Eight-day bin strike threat for Highlands as pay talks stall
Members of the public reacted to the threat of a bin strike with a mix of concern and resignation.
Reader Jo Riddell was worried strikes would leave a mess at the height of summer, just as the city was reaching peak visitor numbers.
“The rubbish will become a problem fast, with so many tourists right now there is already rubbish overflowing every evening by the river, this has a huge impact,” she said.
Alexander Murray said: “I see the point in workers wanting more money. But the service won't get any better. What they need is people that want to do the job.”
Anne Macdonald offered tongue-in-cheek criticism of the council’s track record on bins at times of normal operations.
“What’s the problem, bins don’t get emptied now!” she remarked.
