Edinburgh residents were warned that there will be a lot of disruption as bins are seen overflowing as rubbish collectors start their 12-day strike. 

After workers were paid more, they will be dumping a lot of garbage in Edinburgh Fringe. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously called for council leaders to offer a 5% salary to their workers in order to prevent further strikes from affecting other services of local government.

Hundreds of GMB and Unite members were offered a 5% increase in wages on Friday after previously rejecting two per cent and 3.5 per cent offers.

It is unclear whether they will accept this latest pay increase which will is set to be funded with an additional £140million funding from the Scottish Government.

The bin strike started on Thursday and will last until 30 August.  

Bins has been pictured overflowing with rubbish in Edinburgh as rubbish collectors begin their 12-day strike as residents are warned of 'significant disruption'. Pictured: Today

Pictured: Edinburgh’s bins are seen overflowing as rubbish collectors strike for 12 days. Residents have been warned about’significant disruption’. Image: Today

A source told the Edinburgh News : ‘It was agreed to put forward five per cent to the trade unions and see if that can help move the situation. 

“We are going to need to find some more. However, we have also asked for more flexibility from the Deputy First Minister regarding how debt is funded and the use of the allocated grants.

GMB and Unite, however, have yet to say whether or not they accept. However the source continued: ‘It’s a serious offer and I don’t know what will happen if they don’t accept it. There is no way for anyone to make a deal with the government unless they come up with better plans.

Cosla, who is doing the negotiation on the part of the local governments in Scotland, said through its resources spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann: ‘Following leaders’ special meeting today they have mandated me to move forward with our trade union partners on the basis of an offer that raises the overall value to five per cent and in addition raises the Scottish Local Government Living Wage to £10.50.

Leaders believe that they have reiterated the need to meet with Scottish Government officials about ways in which they could support local councils, including providing flexibility and long-term financial support. This will minimize the potential for public service disruptions and their impact on the communities.

Picket lines were set up at recycling and waste centres throughout the capital on Thursday. After 5am, a rally was organized outside the chambers.

Visitors to the Edinburgh Fringe in the Scottish city will likely encounter mounds of rubbish after workers demanded higher pay, affecting bin collections, street and closing recycling centres. Pictured: Piles by the station

The Edinburgh Fringe is a festival in Scotland that will see a lot of trash. This was because workers were paid more and this has affected bin collection, street recycling, as well as closing recycling centers. Piles near the station

Graeme Smith from Unite, the branch convener of the union spoke at the chambers. He said that the staff are angry over the salary offer. We received 2% at first, which is insulting.

Five months later, “Cosla” increased it to 3.5%. This is not something that we would even consider giving to members in the current cost-of living crisis. It’s clear that there is a lot anger.

According to him, rubbish had already begun piling up on the Royal Mile. He stated that household pick-ups will not be possible during the strike. Recycling centres are also shut down.

Smith stated, “Inevitably there will be waste.”

The impact is huge, and it has a lasting effect for important times.

“Members cannot put food on the tables. They will have to choose between heating or eating in winter.

“So we were made to take these dire measures.

Cammy Day (Edinburgh councillor) attended the demonstration outside of city chambers in support for striking workers on Thursday.

He explained that disruptions will occur. He said that while some services would be maintained for emergencies or life and limb, others such as communal waste collection and waste management will cease for at least the next two weeks.

He stated that the council had issued advice about how to store waste at home during the ongoing strike.

Asking Mr Day what he did to solve the issue, he said that he had written the Deputy First Minister to request an earlier meeting with Cosla in which he could discuss a revised pay offer. That meeting was later held on Friday. 

According to the Labour councillor, Thursday’s statement was: “Of course we will find more money.

“But the Government needs to be able to come to an agreement with Cosla and get a quick solution.

He said that after the strike was over, there would be a plan to recover the city.

Hundreds of GMB and Unite members who work for local councils are now believed to have been offered a 5% increase in wages after previously rejecting two per cent and 3.5 per cent offers. Pictured: Some more rubbish

After rejecting offers of two percent and three percent, hundreds of Unite and GMB members working for local councils were offered a 5% wage increase. Pictured: Some more rubbish

Street cleaning has also been affected by the industrial dispute

The industrial dispute also affected street cleaning  

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured on Wednesday) has previously called on council leaders to make a 5% pay offer to staff to avert further strikes which are also planned

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured Wednesday) previously asked council leaders for a 5% salary offer to employees to prevent further strikes, which were also planned

Mister Day said that while none of us would like to strike, when the Government is unable to pay the workers’ demands and Cosla leaders are stretched thin across all of Scotland’s local authorities, they need to work together to find a solution.

The cleansing workers marched through central London on Thursday to join another line of pickets at Waverley station, where they were joined by another group representing a different industrial dispute.

Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said earlier: “Unite’s local representatives rejected the meager offer of Cosla at 3.5%.”

The offer isn’t good enough.

“Council Leaders across Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow have publicly acknowledged this fact. So why should members even bother to consider it?

From August 24 to August 31, strikes are likely in 14 other Scottish local authorities.