Warning of summer of strikes

The Unite general union has demanded that Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, intervene to avoid events being hit by strikes this summer, following what it describes as “a collapse” in negotiations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA).

The union warned that it is preparing to ballot its local government membership, and a number of events across Scotland, including the Cycling World Championships, could be under threat of cancellation unless the pay dispute is resolved.

“The Scottish government needs to intervene because COSLA for the second year in a row seems utterly incapable of sorting out a fair pay offer,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.