Bin strikes: Union chief hits out at SNP government for slashing council funding for 12 years
dailyrecord.co.ukA union chief has hit out at the Scottish Government for slashing local authorities funding for 12 years as bin workers across the country hit the picket line to strike.Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, has urged the SNP government to meet union demands in order to halt the industrial action by waste workers that got underway today across 13 council areas.Mountains of rubbish have piled up on the streets across Edinburgh since refuse workers went on strike on August 18.Trade unions were offered a 5 per cent pay rise by Cosla, the body representing local government, but despite "productive" talks a deal was not reached.Dunsmore took aim at the Scottish Government saying the Tory government in England was offering nearly £2000 to workers in a pay rise while her members in Scotland were being "offered on average £900".She told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "There needs to be a proper recognition that there is a crisis out there for low paid workers.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland local government workers have been offered £1925."Our members have been offered on average £900.
That's less than half that's getting offered elsewhere. A Tory government is offering workers down south nearly £2000."I don't think it is a bad ask of the Scottish Government to at least meet that, but definitely improve on it.
This all lies in the Scottish Government. "The Scottish Government have cut the funding of local authorities year on year for the last 12 years, there is nothing left for Scottish local authorities to give.
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