Nicola Sturgeon is accused by ‘deeply damaging Glasgow’s image’ after refuse collectors in the city went on strike just hours before Cop 26 environmental summit of world leaders.
- Last night, refuse collectors announced that they would walk out of council pay row
- Today, the second city of Scotland welcomes US President Biden.
- It is already plagued with rodent infestations, fly-tipping, and other pests.
Today, Nicola Sturgeon was blasted by world leaders who arrived in Glasgow to attend Cop 26. They were greeted by a strike from the city’s refuse collectors.
The GMB union’s bin men and women announced last night that they would strike a dispute with the SNP administration of the council, despite having called off the action on Friday.
The second city of Scotland will host 120 leaders, including the US president Joe Biden, for the political stage at the UN summit. This is a time when the city is already plagued by fly-tipping, rubbish, and reports of large rats on the streets.
However, Ms Sturgeon didn’t mention these issues today as she toured media outlets on the fringes of the conference. She said that if the event was going to be a success, world leaders must’step up and raise their ambition’.
The Scottish Tories’ shadow cabinet secretary for local government, Miles Briggs, said Ms Sturgeon ‘ought to have stepped in weeks ago to prevent this situation arising’.
“As well the health implications of rats and overflowing bins, the sight of garbage piling up on Glasgow’s streets is deeply detrimental to Glasgow’s image as the eyes fall on it. He said.
Ms. Sturgeon made no mention of the problems today as she toured Cop 26’s media fringes, telling ITV’s Good Morning Britain the world leaders needed to’step up their ambition’ if the event is to be a success.
The First Minister had the opportunity to meet Greta Thunberg (climate activist) in Glasgow this morning
Despite being called off on Friday, refuse collectors marched out at midnight with the SNP administration of the council.
The second city of Scotland will host 120 leaders, including the US president Joe Biden, for the political stage at the UN summit. This is a time when the city is already plagued by fly-tipping, rubbish, and reports of large rats on the streets.
“It is embarrassing for Glasgow residents to learn that despite the arrival of delegates and COP26 underway, this dispute still has not been resolved either by the SNP or Scottish Government.
GMB members marched out at midnight this morning after the collapse of last-ditch negotiations between the union and Glasgow City Council on Saturday evening.
The planned strike action was called off Friday following a new pay offer from Cosla. The GMB announced that it would suspend strike action for two weeks to consult members.
The GMB however, stated that strike action would be taken after talks on Sunday.
According to the union workers will strike for the Cop26 summit during the first week.
Louise Gilmour, secretary to GMB Scotland, stated that she met with the council in good faith and presented a clear set if proposals to reset industrial relations. These proposals were rejected at the council.
She stated that the council had refused to give the massive opportunity to move forward. Strike action across the cleansing service will now commence, and our members will be polled on the Cosla offer.
However, Scotland’s Transport and Net Zero Secretary, Michael Matheson, only described the strike as ‘disappointing’ this morning, telling the BBC Good Morning Scotland programme: ‘I understand that discussions were taking place last night and the Scottish Government would certainly want to continue to encourage both Cosla, Glasgow City Council and the GMB to continue to discuss this issue to try and find a quick resolution to what I believe is a process issue rather than issue around the deal that was proposed.’
A spokeswoman from Glasgow City Council accused the union, accusing it of having’reneged’ on an agreement signed last week.
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