WASTE, recycling and street cleaning staff in Clackmannanshire will take strike action over a pay dispute.

Unison members in the waste industry have voted to take industrial action across 14 local authorities after the union said the offer on the table was inadequate.

Employer organisation Cosla made a two-stage offer, covering an 18 month period, which would see a wage increase of 2.2 per cent for the first six months.

This would then be followed up by an additional two per cent for the subsequent 12 months, ending in September 2025.

David O’Connor, head of local government for Unison Scotland, said: “Council workers deserve a wage that reflects their essential roles.

“With over 95 per cent of those voting saying they are ready to take industrial action, it demonstrates how they feel, not only about the pay offer, but how undervalued they are feeling generally.

“Next week, the union is to ballot over 38,000 education staff. If they vote to strike, then schools will also be closing in September.

“Cosla and the Scottish Government have to understand the anger among local government workers.

“They feel let down. The only way they can get government to listen is to threaten strike action.”

The ballots closed on Wednesday. Unions are required to get a 50 per cent turnout for strike action to legally go ahead.

Ninety five per cent voted in favour of industrial action, across 14 local authorities across Scotland.

Clacks will join Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Fife, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Perth & Kinross, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian councils in striking.

Colette Hunter, Unison Scotland local government committee chair, added: “This is a significant vote.

“Large parts of Scotland are weeks away from bins not being collected and rubbish piling up in the streets.

“Council staff are angry about the way they’ve been treated over the last decade.

“No-one wants to go on strike. It is always a last resort. But, local government workers have firmly rejected Cosla’s offer.

“They are simply asking for a pay deal that addresses below-inflation pay settlements. These have reduced the value of staff wages by a quarter over the past 14 years.

“Cosla needs to get back around the table with us.”