Bin workers in Glasgow to strike when world leaders visit for global climate event COP26

World leaders descending on Glasgow to clean up the planet could be greeted by mountains of rubbish in the streets after bin workers voted to strike.

GMB union members in the city have voted to walk as they demand better pay.

“We were called Covid heroes and essential workers, this is when low paid workers take a stand against COSLA and say enough is enough because these hero’s deserve a decent pay rise” says Chris Mitchell of GMB Union. 

The union says COSLA, the representative body of local governments in Scotland, has until Monday to present the union with an improved offer if the strike action is to be called off. 

COP26 will place Glasgow at the heart of the global fight against the climate crisis with world leaders and climate experts gathering to put their heads together to solve the climate emergency. 

The conference will run from October 31 to November 12 in the SEC, Scotland’s largest exhibition centre, and see fringe events across the city. 

An overwhelming majority of 96.9 per cent of members voted in favour of industrial action in response to the latest pay offer from COSLA. 

“We appreciate everything that local government workers have been doing, and continue to do, to support people and communities during the pandemic and as we begin to recover,” COSLA told The Big Issue. 

“We continue with on-going constructive negotiations.”

Bin lorry drivers in Brighton have extended their ongoing strike until mid November, as rubbish has continued to pile up in the streets since October 5. 

Brighton’s refuse, recycling and commercial waste collectors are demanding the city’s Green party-led council settle an ongoing dispute around changes to working rotas that have seen drivers from long standing rounds moved as workers leave to plug the 100,000 shortage of HGV drivers.