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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Catherine Hunter

Litter strewn streets in Glasgow City Centre as cleansing workers go on strike

Litter is already beginning to pile up in Glasgow City Centre as the first day of industrial action in the cleansing department commenced.

Bins in Sauchiehall Street were overflowing and rubbish had been dumped up and down the street with the problem only expected to get worse in the coming days.

Glasgow City Council says plans will be put in place to recover from the impact of the strike but warned it could be weeks before services return to normal.

READ MORE: Glasgow bin strikes will mean 'rat buffet' open, cleansing workers warn

Thousands of waste and recycling workers across Scotland have gone on strike today (Friday) which is expected to last until Monday, August 29.

Earlier today workers in Glasgow gathered at picket lines across the city before taking part in a demo in the city centre with GMB convenor Chris Mitchell describing the solidarity between workers as brilliant.

Mr Mitchell said: “This was the first day of strike action for GMB cleansing workers alongside its sister trade unions. We had a fantastic turn out at the trade union rally Glasgow City Centre.

“The solidarity was brilliant. We had workers and members of the public all coming together as we make a stand against the costs of living crisis.

“I was also on the picket lines all day supporting members and I am so proud of them for making this stand in difficult circumstances.

“Looking at the pictures of Edinburgh and Glasgow - rubbish piling up it just goes to show how important cleansing workers are to this country so I do hope we get a solution soon.”

Glasgow City Council says it fully acknowledges the next few days will be a challenging time for residents and visitors to the city due to the disruption caused by strike action.

A spokesman said: “Staff in our neighbourhoods teams have exercised their right to withdraw their labour and that has directly impacted on the delivery of services, such as household bin collections, street cleansing, emptying bins in public places and our household waste and recycling centres. The strike is also affecting our parks and roads teams.

“We are monitoring the extent of the strike action on a daily basis and there is currently extensive disruption to the work usually carried out from our operational depots. Where staff have gone to work we will prioritise their efforts appropriately.

“Plans will be put in place to recover from the impact of the strike, but it is likely to take a number of weeks for the service to return fully to normal.

“The strike is in response to on-going, national pay negotiations managed by COSLA on behalf of all Scottish local authorities. We remain hopeful that a settlement can be reached that is agreeable to all parties.”

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