EDINBURGH is facing a "summer of discontent" leading to massive disruption across the Capital unless efforts are made to appease disgruntled council workers.
The stark warning from unions is that possible strike action could lead to schools being closed, bins left unemptied, community centres and libraries shut, and social work and housing offices left unstaffed.
City leaders are understood to privately fear disruption to the Festival season, such as rubbish left piled up on the streets.
Over the coming months, public sector unions are set to ballot local members on a range of issues, concerning pensions, pay, and working conditions – which could result in several bouts of industrial action from May onwards.
The news comes just days after the council passed its budget for the next financial year, which includes a range of cutbacks that have been criticised by union leaders.
John Ross, service conditions convener at public sector union Unison, today said if there is just one compulsory redundancy as a result, "the union will take the council on".
He added: "The union is very concerned that the speed of change, and the scale of change, is reaching the point where industrial conflict may be inevitable. We want to maintain negotiations (with the council] to avoid services being hit, but ultimately we will protect our members."
Mr Ross said there could be at least three separate ballots on industrial action, which may lead to what he dubbed a "summer of discontent".
Options include an all-out strike, selective walk-outs or working to rule, and could involve staff from a wide range of departments, including administrative workers, home helps, city planners, accountants and school employees. A one-day strike last year hit 122 schools and community centres across Edinburgh. It is thought workers from other local government unions could also be involved, such as binmen.
The city council is expected to propose a change in working conditions in the next few months, as part of a "modernising pay" or "single status" agreement.
This, in part, aims to end the unfair pay scales that often favoured male employees. While the majority of staff should end up better off, some workers could lose money.
There could also be changes to weekend working rules, and the introduction of performance-related-pay.
Similar moves in East Lothian may also result in strike action, with a ballot currently underway.
Mr Ross said he hoped the situation in Edinburgh will become clearer by the end of next month.
Separately, Unison has rejected a three-year pay offer from CoSLA, the local government employers, which involves rises of around 2.2 per cent year-on-year. The union is looking for five per cent, and staff are expected to be balloted within weeks.
Another ballot is also likely to be held on proposed changes to local government workers' pensions across Scotland.
Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's finance leader, admitted the local pay negotiations would be "very challenging". But he said: "We've got to strike the right balance between the interests of taxpayers and those who they rely on to deliver public services."
City leader Jenny Dawe added: "Our doors are open for discussion and always have been. Whilst I acknowledge Unison's concern for their members, they are really prejudging the situation.
"It is absolutely essential that we discuss the issues in a frank and open way."
www.unison-scotland.org.ukThe full article contains 572 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
