RUBBISH could be left piling up on Fife's streets once more as the country’s biggest trade union rejected another pay offer.

Waste and recycling workers who are members of Unison overwhelmingly voted against the offered pay rise from Cosla.

Local government workers across Scotland were offered an hourly uplift of 67p or a 3.6 per cent increase, whichever is higher.

Unison members rejected this offer, insisting it fell short of expectations, meaning strike action could be looming over Fife again.

Colette Hunter, local government committee chair for Unison Scotland, said: “Cosla and the Scottish Government need to understand the anger among council staff.

“They want a fair increase to stop their pay consistently falling behind, and for their wage increase to be in line with other areas of the economy.

“The last thing anyone wants is to go on strike, but local government workers deserve better.

“This result must be a wake-up call and get the employers and government to invest in local services and the staff who deliver them.”

Strike action had initially been scheduled for Wednesday, August 14 to Thursday, August 22 but were postponed amid a new pay offer on the table.

As reported last week, another union GMB Scotland had voted to accept the pay offer, while Unite are yet to make a decision.

Unison will now convene to discuss action after their members voted against the latest pay offer.

David O’Connor, co-lead for local government at Unison Scotland, added: “Councils are in crisis.

“They struggle to recruit because workers are expected to deliver even more with fewer staff and lower wages.

“That puts workers and the services they provide under intolerable pressure. It’s unsustainable and it can’t go on.”