Date confirmed for bin strikes across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Waste workers across the north east will begin striking in 2 weeks time, unless the unions get a better pay offer.

Action will begin on August 14 for 9 days, ending at 4.59am on August 22.

It involves members of Unite and GMB who work as waste workers, street cleaners and recycling centres.

All rejected a 3.2% rise put on the table by council umbrella body Cosla, which said the offer was “strong, fair and credible”.

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said a rejected pay offer of 3.2% had failed to match the escalating cost of living or the rise offered to council workers in England and Wales.

He said: “We had constructive talks with the Scottish Government and Cosla yesterday but our members are less interested in constructive talks than fair pay.

“The process has gone on too long with too little progress.

"We are more than halfway through the year and there is no more time to waste discussing old offers with new wrapping. Enough is enough.

“Industrial action will start in two weeks unless ministers and local authorities identify the money needed to make an acceptable offer.

“These strikes will be disruptive to all the Scots who rely on our members' work but would not be necessary if councils had shown a greater urgency and sense of realism.”

There was "positive talks" held yesterday (Tuesday) but unions say there needs to be a new credible offer before it considers scrapping strike action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thousands of Unite members will take strike action next month unless there is a new credible pay offer put on the table.

“Our membership has waited months for an offer which reflects their professionalism and the dedication which they put into delivering vital local services.”

Graham McNab, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite stands ready to enter into meaningful negotiations at any time but our members need to see a significant shift in the coming days to avert strike action. Strike action is not yet inevitable but action from the politicians must be imminent.”

“There is a window of opportunity to resolve this dispute but the politicians should be under no illusions that our members will take strike action if necessary to secure the pay offer which they deserve.”

Unison described the industrial action as a “last resort”.

But it's not known if bin collections and recycling centres will be impacted on all or some of these days.

Advice for residents

Aberdeen City Council is offering advice to residents ahead of the bin strikes next month.

It's telling people to put their bin out by 7am on their normal collection day and take it in if it isn't picked up by the end of the day.

If it's not emptied people should not put their bin out again until their next collection day.

Recycling centres will be open as normal but bulky uplifts will be suspended until further notice.

Affected residents and businesses are being asked to store their waste and recycling safely until the council can return to collect it, and to also take litter and dog waste home with them if litter bins are full.