EIGHT days of strike action by Fife Council waste and cleansing services workers have been called off.

The walk outs had been due to take place across 18 Scottish councils from Wednesday.

Unite has now confirmed that the action has been suspended following a new pay offer made by COSLA.

A fresh ballot will now open on Thursday and close on September 5.

The new offer represents a minimum cash increase of £1,292 for the lowest paid council workers, which is equivalent to 5.2 per cent for those earning around £25,000. The Scottish local government living wage will also increase by 5.63 per cent.

READ MORE: Fife Council warn of disruption as result of strike action

Graham McNab, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government said: “Unite members across all of Scotland’s councils should be applauded for standing firm. They have remained resolute in an effort to secure a fairer and better pay offer."

“We believe that the new pay offer is credible. For the first time in years, it will mean all council workers receiving an above inflation increase.

“Unite will now suspend the eight days of strike action so a ballot can take place on the new offer.”

A minimum increase of 67 pence an hour or 3.6 per cent, whichever is better, will be applied to council workers if the offer is accepted. This amounts to an average 4.24 per cent increase for a one year period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

The COSLA offer now lifts the minimum pay increase above the offer made to council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the National Joint Council (NJC), which was a key red line for Unite in Scotland.

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The COSLA offer represents a significant improvement on the initial one made in May. This offer amounted to 2.2 per cent running from 1 April to 30 September, and two per cent for a 12-month period running from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.

A further 3.2 per cent pay offer was also rejected outright by Unite in July.

The broader rate of inflation (RPI) stood at 3.3 per cent in April which means that every council worker will receive an above inflation rise for the first time in years, if the offer is accepted.