Cleansing staff, janitors and cleaners have downed their tools in a dramatic U-turn for better pay. 

The planned strikes during the climate summit were previously called off on Friday after a new pay offer was proposed by COSLA - an umbrella body responsible for Scottish councils.

But yesterday, the GMB announced the collapse of last-ditch talks with Glasgow City Council due to ther being “too much bad faith among members” towards the local authority.

Here is what we know so far...

Why are the workers striking?

Refuse workers and street cleaners have proceeded with strike action over a pay rise row with COSLA.

The workers had been demanding a rise that reflected their efforts during Covid-19. 

The feud between the unions and the government body comes as National Insurance payments are set to rise from next April.

Workers rejected a "kick in the teeth" pay proposal last month, which would have seen an £850 rise for those earning up to £25,000.

How long will the strikes last? 

The industrial action will commence from today and is expected to last for the duration of the climate summit, ending on Friday, November 12.

What was the most recent pay offer? 

COSLA made a last-minute bid on Friday in an effort to break strike deadlock with trade unions. 

Under the proposal, cleansing workers and teaching staff could benefit from a one-year 5.89% pay rise for the lowest-paid council employees as part of a £1062 rise for those earning below £25,000.

The offer would have remained subject t a two-week consultation and previously led union chiefs to suspend all plans for strikes in the city during COP26.

Why has the GMB U-turned? 

The union has accused Glasgow City Council of failing to give members "proper time and space" to consider an offer from local authority body Cosla.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland, Drew Duffy -GMB organising and equality officer - claimed that the council was "constantly goading members" and they had decided "enough was enough and the strike continues".

He said: "The workforce are the lowest-paid workers in Scotland. There are deep-rooted problems within Glasgow City Council. We have been trying to meet with the council.

"It is a constant breakdown of industrial relations, there have been longstanding problems with low pay and discriminatory pay and our members have just had enough.

"The conditions they work in, the pay they receive is not good enough."

What's Glasgow City Council saying? 

Council bosses have said the strikes are "very disappointing" and that they would meet with the unions "at any time" to resolve the issue. 

A statement reads: “The agreement struck at national level gave two weeks to consider the pay offer and so there is no reason for this strike to go ahead at this time.

“It is very disappointing the GMB has opted for this course of action, which now seems to be about allocating time for meetings rather than a pay agreement.

“We will meet with the GMB at any time to try and resolve what now appears to be a local dispute.”

The local authority previously said that the strikes would have an "unfair local impact in Glasgow in pursuit of a national campaign."

How will this affect you? 

It is currently unknown if resources will be moved around to accommodate bin collections during the industrial action. 

The Glasgow Times will keep readers updated on this issue. 

More to follow...