South Ayrshire Council waste workers are set to go on strike for up to a week over what a union has described as a "pitiful" pay offer.

Fifteen council areas across Scotland, are set to be affected by the walk-out by members of the Unite union, which is set to begin on August 24 and last until August 31.

Unite officials confirmed today (August 10) that its members across all waste services in the affected councils are to walk-out in response to a ‘pitiful’ two per cent local government pay offer.

East Ayrshire is also among the council areas set to be hit by the strike, but North Ayrshire is not affected.

Unite officials said the second wave of strike dates to hit all waste services in councils forms the next phase of a coordinated campaign to persuade the Scottish Government and local government umbrella body COSLA to make a decent pay offer. 

COSLA have said that "constructive" talks have been held, and they will be picked up this week.

It is estimated that around 1,500 Unite members across 15 councils will  participate in the second wave of strike action.

Unite will be the only union involved in this phase of council strike action.

The union reported that more than half of Scotland’s 250,000 council workers are earning less than £25,000 a year for a 37-hour week.

Unite previously warned all new council leaders that without action to improve pay, they would see strikes this summer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members play a crucial role in keeping Scotland’s bins emptied and streets clean and they have had enough of the procrastination between COSLA and the Scottish Government that has led us to where we are now.

"Our members across all councils will receive the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved and a fair pay offer secured. Unite will always defends the jobs, pay and conditions of its members."

A COSLA spokesperson said:  “We held constructive discussions with Scottish Government last week.  Leaders met virtually on Friday and at this meeting agreed that they needed further information.

“Given the importance of a pay award for our workforce, council leaders wanted to seek further clarification from both the Scottish Government and the UK Government and will reconvene this week to further consider this matter.”

The Scottish Government have also been approached for comment.