WASTE workers at Clacks Council are set to go on strike later this month, with NHS staff also gearing up for industrial action.

UNISON, which represents public service workers, have confirmed strike dates in eight local authorities, including the Wee County, while more could be on the cards.

A first wave of co-ordinated strike action, taken as a dispute over pay continues, will commence on days over two separate windows – from August 26-29 and from September 7-10.

Workers in Clackmannanshire will strike on waste collection days falling within the two sets of dates – it is understood this will include Monday, August 29, as well as Wednesday and Thursday in the second week of September.

Pamela Robertson. UNISON Clackmannanshire branch secretary, said: "I am incredibly proud that Clackmannanshire UNISON members have voted to take part in upcoming strike action.

"Our members always see industrial action as the last resort, and it shows the strength of feeling they have about a derisory offer which amounts to an almost 10 per cent pay cut when taking inflation into account.

"They see their counterparts in England and Wales being offered well over double that and so it is simply not feasible for COSLA to expect low paid local authority workers in Scotland to accept a deal which would push many of us into poverty.

"Our members work incredibly hard delivering vital public services for below average wages.

"They deserve to be able to heat their homes and put food on the table to feed their families this winter.

"COSLA must go back to the Scottish Government and come up with a fair offer. "

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government, warned that industrial action will only escalate if a "significantly improved pay offer is not forthcoming".

When ballots were announced in June, Gail Macgregor, resources spokesperson at COSLA, said: "COSLA, every year, argues for fair funding for local government to maintain the essential services our communities rely on.

"No increase in our core funding damages these services and limits the options we have in successfully concluding pay negotiations."

The council previously said it hoped to see an agreed position being reached while it maintains business continuity plans to respond to events.

Meanwhile, NHS Scotland staff are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay.

The UNISON and GMB unions both said they are balloting NHS staff after rejecting a five per cent pay increase.

Membership in UNISON include support staff, nursing and allied professionals.

Karen Leonard, GMB Scotland organiser, said: "More of our members are affected by debt, fuel poverty and hunger, while soaring inflation and energy bills means the real-terms value of this pay cut will get bigger with each passing month – there's no doubt this crisis is turning into a catastrophe for many frontline staff and their families."

The Scottish Government has been contacted for a response.