Jeremy Corbyn stood shoulder to shoulder with striking cleansing workers in Glasgow today fighting for better pay.

The former Labour leader joined workers who have been on strike for eight days as the GMB union members continue their action into a second week.

In a post on social media MP Nadia Whittome said she was proud to join the picket line this morning with Jeremy Corbyn and Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney.

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His visit came as striking cleansing workers held a rally in George Square this afternoon.

Following talks over the weekend, Chris Mitchell, the GMB's convenor for cleansing in Glasgow, said the city council had come up with 14 extra points that would be put to members.

Just days ago Mr Corbyn urged Glasgow City Council not to “up the ante” in the dispute with cleansing workers by bringing in private contractors to collect rubbish in the city amid strike action.

 

He warned that bringing in private contractors would lengthen the dispute and make it ‘more bitter’.

Mr Corbyn is in Glasgow this week for a series of events and talks linked to COP26.

A spokesperson for the council indicated that it would seek to recoup any funds spent on private contractors from the GMB union.

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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that contractors were not being considered to fulfil the regular duties of striking staff, but to mitigate the risks of piling rubbish during bonfire night.

Street cleaners and bin collectors walked out on strike at one minute past midnight on Monday following the collapse of pay dispute talks between Glasgow City Council and the union last Sunday evening.

The GMB confirmed last week that its workers would take strike through the first full week of the international climate summit.

The GMB was calling for a £2,000 pay rise and had previously turned down an offer of an £850-a-year increase for staff earning up to £25,000.

The proposal from umbrella body, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which was suggested on Friday was for a one-year, 5.89 per cent increase for the lowest paid council staff. This comes as part of a £1,062 rise for all staff earning below £25,000.

The Scottish Government gave £30 million to support the offer.