Glasgow bin strike kicks off as Cop26 comes to town

Refuse collectors and street cleaners who are members of the GMB union have begun industrial action today in as Glasgow as tens of thousands of global delegates arrives for the UN Cop26 climate summit.

Negotiations between the union and the City Council collapsed on Sunday evening.

Secretary for GMB Scotland Louise Gilmour has claimed via Twitter why the strike action was resurrected after an new pay offer was made on Friday: “We met the council in good faith, offering a clear set of proposals to reset industrial relations and avoid strikes. The council rejected these proposals,” she said, explaining: “Regrettably, the council refused this massive opportunity to move forward, and strike action across the cleansing service will now begin, during which time our members will be balloted on the Cosla pay offer.”