WASTE service workers in North Ayrshire are set for eight days of strike action next month as a dispute over pay offers rumbles on.

East and South Ayrshire Council staff are currently on strike until Wednesday, August 31 after an initial two per cent pay increase was knocked back, before a 3.5 per cent rise was also turned down.

On Tuesday, the Unite trade union confirmed that it had said no to a third offer of a 5 per cent increase, meaning the strikes went ahead as planned in 14 council areas in Scotland.

Waste workers in Edinburgh had already been on strike prior to the start of the wider action on Wednesday.

Now, Unite has said that it has served notice for further strike action in waste services, hitting 19 local authorities - including North Ayrshire.

The next strikes are planned to take place from September 6-13.

Talks involving the trade unions with the Deputy First Minister in Edinburgh took place last night (Wednesday) and despite being ‘constructive’ there was no breakthrough, and there remains no new offer on the table.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members across local government are taking strike action because the politicians have failed them miserably.

"For five months COSLA and the Scottish Government have dithered and bickered with each other while our members have increasingly faced a cost of living crisis.

"We will fully support them in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

COSLA and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.