Residents are putting rubbish in their BATHS and hiring skips as bin strike spreads across Scotland

On Aug 26, 2022

Edinburgh residents have had to start putting their rubbish in their baths and paying £200 for skips as more refuse workers across Scotland join the walk out today.

Workers from 16 different council areas are striking until Monday, joining the existing action in Edinburgh which has made the capital an ‘international embarrassment’ in the midst of the Fringe Festival.

Unions have rejected a five per cent wage increase, calling it ‘insulting’ in the face of the cost of living crisis, pushing the strike into its second week.

Helen Sikora, 87, from the Old Town in Edinburgh, told The BBC that she has had to start putting her rubbish in her own bath.

Helen Sikora (pictured), 87, has said that she has been putting her rubbish in the bath for a week

Workers from 16 different council areas across Scotland are striking until Monday, joining the existing action in Edinburgh which has made the capital an ‘international embarrassment’

Bin lorry drivers redeployed to drive school buses

Bin lorry drivers have been redeployed to drive school buses amid a shortage ahead of the new term.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) failed to find bus drivers for more than 40 primary and secondary school routes in North Lanarkshire in time for the start of term last week.

The staff shake-up means blue bin collections will halt for three weeks. Council bosses announced on Sunday that drivers who currently transport additional support needs (ASN) children will drive a recently procured fleet of ten coaches.

Blue bin lorry drivers will be redeployed by the local authority to drive ASN pupils. The recycling collections will be suspended until September 12.

The council has asked residents to dispose of paper and card in their general waste bins or take it to a recycling centre.

A spokesman said yesterday: ‘The numbers of pupils affected has reduced and we are working with SPT to secure remaining routes.

‘The redeployment of some of our drivers means we have taken the decision to suspend our household blue bin service, which collects paper and cardboard.’

She said: ‘I came up with the idea myself as it’s the safest place to put rubbish. If it then leaks then it’s easy to clean my bath. I use the local health club every day to go swimming, so I don’t need to use my shower.

‘It’s absolutely disgusting going out shopping now and seeing the rubbish all over the pavements, it’s just dreadful.

‘I don’t accumulate a lot of rubbish, but I’ve had this in my bath for six days. it’s going to be a health hazard soon.’

Unions have rejected a five per cent wage increase, calling it ‘insulting’ in the face of the cost of living crisis.

William Cavendish, 42, who lives in Cockburn Street, said he coould now smell the stench from the overflowing bins from his third-floor flat.

He said: ‘My friend saw seagulls having a gourmet breakfast of rats, they were literally plucking live rats off the rubbish and eating them the other day.

‘We need to urgently know what the council’s plans are for the clear-up once the strike is over, because there is rubbish everywhere and it’s going to take a monster to clean it all up.’

Neil Dishington, 38, from the Polwarth area of Edinburgh hired a £200 skip to hold his waste.

He said: ‘I rent out my spare room to Airbnb guests during the festival so I generate a lot of waste and recycling.

‘The issue we have here is the large street bins are full and overflowing, so we have no option but to hold onto our rubbish.’

Unite members working in waste services in 13 councils walked out on Wednesday, following the strike action in Edinburgh which began August 18 after workers were offered a 3.5% pay increase.

Conservative local government spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘The SNP have been underfunding local councils and stripping money from essential services since they came to power, yet they have the brass neck to try and dodge responsibility for this shambles.

‘In the middle of summer, with the Edinburgh Festival in full swing and tourists visiting all corners of the country, the SNP’s inaction and deflection risks embarrassing us on an international scale.

The rubbish piled high in Edinburgh has been an ‘international embarrassment’ as the city hosts the annual Fringe Festival. Pictured: A bin in Edinburgh yesterday

The strike in Edinburgh began after workers were offered a 3.5% pay rise, which is less than what refuse collectors in England receive

‘The Nationalists must urgently intervene to resolve these strikes and finally commit to the fair funding for local councils we have been calling for, for years.’

Talks between local government body Cosla, trade unions and Scottish Government took place yesterday, but no deal was reached.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: ‘Whilst the Scottish Government has no formal role in the negotiations, we continue to work collaboratively with Cosla and the trade unions.

‘I welcome the commitment from all parties to continue talks to find a fair and sustainable settlement that will bring an end to the ongoing industrial action.

Unions have rejected a fiver per cent wage increase, calling it ‘insulting’ in the face of the cost of living crisis. Pictured: A rally outside of Edinburgh City Chamber as the strikers enter the second week of the bin strike

‘I want to ensure an early resolution and that will only come about if there’s intense dialogue.

‘We are doing all we can within the resources available to us in the face of the cost-of-living emergency and have provided an extra £140 million on a recurring basis to support a higher pay award.’

Unite waste services members are currently striking in Edinburgh, Aberdeen City, Angus, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian.