Glasgow bin strike: New offer being considered by GMB members

Rubbish is piling up in the streets of Glasgow

Striking refuse workers in Glasgow are considering a new offer from the city council on the final day of their industrial action.

The workers have been on strike for just over a week in a dispute over pay and conditions.

GMB members held a rally in the city's George Square, which was attended by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who said the workers should be "thanked".

The GMB said it hoped a new deal being put to members would end the action.

The local authority body Cosla had already proposed a pay rise of 5.8% for the lowest paid staff as part of a £1,062 increase for staff earning below £25,000.

• Private firms could be brought in to empty bins

• Bin strikes begin as world leaders arrive for COP26

The deal, for workers at all 32 Scottish councils, involves £30m from the Scottish government and £18.5m from local government.

The GMB is also looking for a Glasgow-specific deal.

GMB members gathered for a rally in Glasgow's George Square

Chris Mitchell, the GMB's convenor for cleansing in Glasgow, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that as well as the offer of a 5.8% pay rise, Glasgow City Council had come up with 14 extra points that would be put to members.

"For too long there has been a breakdown in communications with the council," he said. "We've had horrendous cuts in the service - moreso after the last four years. The conditions we work in are shocking.

"We were also excluded from the £500 Covid bonus last year - quite rightly the NHS and the care workers deserved that money but I just think the Scottish government made a mistake by not including cleansing workers."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined GMB members at the rally

At the George Square rally, Mr Corbyn said he fully supported the workers.

He told BBC Scotland: "I take my hat off to them. I think they've done an amazing job of educating the public about how important refuse collection is, about explaining that they are getting lower pay than other people working in other neighbouring refuse collection areas and their heads are held high.

"They've stood up and achieved some changes. I think that's fantastic and it's been a pleasure to meet them this morning on the picket line.

"I think it's very important that the eyes of the world are on Glasgow and therefore it's very important that workers in Glasgow, such as refuse workers, are properly paid and treated properly."

Mr Corbyn added that refuse workers had worked in the "worst possible conditions" throughout Covid.

"They should be thanked for all they do for all of us," he said. "From what I picked up on the picket line, if agreement isn't reached they will be out again."

The GMB's Chris Mitchell addresses union members in Glasgow

The GMB denied accusations that the two-week consultation period it had announced - covering the period of COP26 when world leaders gathered for crucial climate talks - was a political stunt and said the dates were a coincidence.

Mr Mitchell added: "This is to do with workers standing up for what they believe in - a long time coming in Glasgow to be honest," he said. "I've been here 30 years and the demise in the service has been absolutely shocking."

He said that 14 months ago, GMB members were told they were being classed as critical workers due to the nature of their work being a health and safety issue.

"But even during that period cuts were still made," he said. "We gave the council a two-week period notice for strike action and it just happened to land on the 1st of November which was COP26."

He added: "I'm hoping the 14 points will be sufficient but it will be up to the members. Some of the points that are on the table we've been waiting probably five, six years for, especially some of the facilities that we work in - they're unfit for purpose.

"I'm hoping for a resolution fairly fast so we can get Glasgow clean again and do the job that we get paid to do with respect and dignity."

If union members reject the new offer, the union is expected to ballot for a fresh strike mandate.

Councillor Allan Casey said that along with council leader Susan Aitken, he had held "constructive discussions" with the GMB and that an offer had been put forward on Friday which was then updated on Saturday.

He said: "It is an offer which will improve local workforce relationships, bring unions more into decision- making, provide training and support for a range of staff and offer overtime to deal with the backlog created by the strike.

"We also offered to look at whether lower graded staff require an interim arrangement, if it does not impact our equal pay commitments, until a new pay and grading scheme is in place.

"We await a response from the GMB about whether this offer has been accepted or not.

"The strike is due to end this evening and the council will put in place a plan to recover from its impact".

Last week the council said it would bring in private contractors to address urgent health and safety problems, such as overflowing bins and blocked stairwells in high rise flats.