BINS across Inverclyde are set to go unemptied for eight days after three trade unions confirmed dates for industrial action.

Almost 100 local waste and refuse workers are set to take part in co-ordinated walkouts in Inverclyde and at local authorities across Scotland.

Unite, Unison and the GMB announced on Wednesday that some of their members would be taking part in co-ordinated walkouts between August 14 and 22.

Waste workers, street cleaners, and recycling centre operators will be among those taking part in the strikes, which the council says are set to cause a 'significant' disruption to local services. 

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A statement issued yesterday by Unite, which counts most of the local refuse workforce among its members, said the action would go ahead across 18 councils unless a "credible" pay offer is tabled beforehand.

The news came after the union held "positive talks" with Scotland’s cabinet secretary for finance and local government Shona Robison on Tuesday, as well as with COSLA, which represents the country’s local authorities.

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe told the Telegraph today that Ms Robison, who is also Deputy First Minister, would have to take swift action if walkouts were to be averted.

He said: “All three unions have now advised us that they will be taking coordinated action over those eight days, which will result in a significant interruption of services, impacting on the community.

“Management will be looking at what contingency arrangements can be put in place but with 96 employees due to go on strike if any services are able to continue, they will be very limited.

“COSLA met with the Deputy First Minister on Tuesday along with the trade unions to seek extra funding to allow an improved offer to be made that might settle the dispute.

“No commitment was given by Ms Robison.

“If the strike due to commence on August 14 is to be avoided, Ms Robison needs to act quickly.”

The current COSLA pay offer amounts to a 3.2 per cent increase for a one-year period between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

The pay dispute affects all council staff.

Unite has said the pay offer "grossly undervalues" Scottish council workers, while a senior GMB organiser claimed it had failed to match the escalating cost of living or the rise offered to council workers in England and Wales.

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.”

If the action goes ahead, Inverclyde is set to see a repeat of the scenes of August 2022, when picket lines were formed outside Greenock's Pottery Street recycling centre by Unite members.

When contacted by the Telegraph for comment on the upcoming disruption, an Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “We have been informed by the trade unions of members' intention to take industrial action as part of a national pay dispute and we await further information on what that will mean for Inverclyde.

“In the meantime, we are continuing to liaise with our partners at COSLA who are leading the negotiations on behalf of councils and looking at how the proposed action would affect local services if it goes ahead as planned.”