East Dunbartonshire Council has confirmed that the second stoppage will run from 10am today (Friday) with collections resuming next Wednesday.

As reported in last week's Herald, the action follows a ballot of members by both the GMB and UNISON on strike action over pay cuts and diminished working conditions.

A council spokesman warned normal street cleansing services will also be affected and toilets in Roman Road, Bearsden, and Mugdock Road, Milngavie, may be closed on Saturday, not reopening until Wednesday.

The new pay proposals are being made to allow the council to address the single status agreement which all Scottish local authorities have to implement to harmonise pay and conditions.

But while unions reported 96 per cent of staff were in favour of the walk out, EDC's chief executive Sue Bruce this week took issue with the statement.

She said: "We do not believe this strike action is at all representative of the feelings of the whole East Dunbartonshire workforce.

"The GMB took the decision to ballot only
their 64 members based in the cleansing department rather than the 260 members they have council wide and only 47 voted for strike which is 18 per cent of all GMB members.

"For UNISON, less than half of the membership participated in their ballot and only 23 per cent of their members voted for strike. Overall, only 12 per cent of employees voted for this strike action.

"A negotiated agreement was reached with UNITE and following direct consultation, 85 per cent of the council's 3,600 employees covered by single status have now offered to accept this revised package of proposals."

Afraid

On this claim, area UNISON spokesman Jim Burnet commented: "It is our information that many of the members who have signed the agreement did so under duress because frankly they were afraid for their jobs.

"Doctor the figures how they will, we took the democratic decision to prosecute this action because the majority of the members who responded to the ballot, voted for the action."

The chief executive said the council was "extremely disappointed" that both unions had taken the action while negotiations on single status were ongoing and said the authority would take every step to mitigate disruption to services.

She added: "Single status is a very complex issue and we have recognised this throughout the negotiation process and believe the revised package of pay and conditions is the best that can be achieved at this time. Negotiations are continuing with the GMB and UNISON and the council is still keen to reach agreement with them."

Mr Burnett said he also hoped talks between unions and EDC scheduled for yesterday (Thursday) could resolve the deadlock in negotiations.

The council also issued the following information:
bins which should have been emptied on Monday, May 12 should be put out on Wednesday, May 21.
bins which should have been emptied on Tuesday, May 13 should be put out on Thursday, May 22
bins scheduled to be emptied on Wednesday, May 21 or Thursday 22 may be emptied and alternative arrangements will be made by the council.

Further information is available on the council's website at www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk or by calling 0845 045 4510.