Anas Sarwar has claimed anger over the Glasgow bin strike during COP26 should be directed at an "out of touch" city council and the Scottish Government.
The Labour leader defended the decision of GMB union members to walk out on the same day as world leaders arrive in Scotland's largest city.
The strike action will mean domestic rubbish goes uncollected while an estimated 25,000 delegates and media descend on Glasgow.
Talks between council bosses and the GMB broke down over the weekend in the latest twist in a long-running row over pay and conditions.
Sarwar said: "Anyone angry about the strike in Glasgow should be directing it at an arrogant and out of touch council leadership and the Scottish Government, not the workers.
"We applauded these workers and called them heroes through the pandemic. They are fighting for fairer pay and better services."
In a statement released on Sunday, GMB Scotland Secretary Louise Gilmour said: “The council has failed to give our members the proper time and space to consider the 11th hour offer from COSLA, and the fact the council moved to block strike action in the Court of Session using anti-trade union legislation, means there is too much bad faith among members towards the employer.
“Therefore, our members in cleansing have informed us that they will still proceed with the planned strike action from midnight on November 1."
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The agreement struck at national level gave two weeks to consider the pay offer and so there is no reason for this strike to go ahead at this time.
“It is very disappointing the GMB has opted for this course of action, which now seems to be about allocating time for meetings rather than a pay agreement.
“We will meet with the GMB at any time to try and resolve what now appears to be a local dispute.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
