‘Frontline to breadline’ — striking council workers form picket line

Striking council workers formed a picket line today in Hatson amid an ongoing national pay dispute.

There will be no waste or recycling collections in Orkney today, and while household waste recycling centre remain open, OIC has warned that full skips cannot be emptied due to the strike action.

There will also be no litter bin emptying throughout the county today either.

Strike action is also likely to take place on Monday, August 29 —  which would mean possible disruptions for Westray alongside Mainland areas one and six for refuse and area nine for recycling.

Talks between trade unions and CoSLA, the umbrella body for Scottish councils continue but so far, a resolution to the pay dispute has not been reached.

Council workers across Scotland, including Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and the Highlands, are taking strike action, and in Edinburgh, mounds of rubbish have formed in the streets as refuse workers undertake a two-week strike.

Mark Vincent, the GMB trade union representative in Orkney, praised the response from members in the county, displaying solidarity with their counterparts on the Scottish Mainland.

An Orkney Islands Council spokeswoman said: “Please hold on to your rubbish and recycling if you can folks as we cannot guarantee additional runs will be possible given the limited resources — however, officers are looking at various options and, again, we will advise as we can.”