Cleansing workers in Glasgow have sent a message of ‘solidarity’ to striking colleagues in Edinburgh.

GMB members have started taking industrial action over pay in the capital, for four days in the first wave of planned walkouts.

In Glasgow strikes in waste and recycling are planned for four days from next Friday, August 26 to 29, and again from September 7 to 10, if no deal is reached.

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In a video posted on Twitter, Glasgow GMB convenor for refuse and cleansing, Chris Mitchell, urged members to back those taking part in the action in other councils.

The rep said: “Solidarity is key here. We must stand and support each other.

"We must support Edinburgh over these next coming four or five days because this is crucial. And the rest of the councils taking industrial action, we must support them as well.”

He added: “It’s about looking after our members to get a decent pay rise. If we don’t make a stand now we are going to get nothing for years to come.”

Unions are taking action, having rejected a 3.5% pay rise offer from Cosla, the local authority employers' body.

It is an increase on the 2% previously offered and rejected.

The Scottish Government has provided £140m to councils to improve the pay offer and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 5% should be offered.

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The GMB union said the 3.5% offer was a “miserly lift” on the initial offer as workers struggle with rising inflation and rocketing energy bills and increased food costs.

Cosla said that an increased offer will have an impact on services and called on the Scottish Government to provide councils with more cash.

GMB, Unison and Unite members are taking part in action across councils this month and next, totalling 12 days of action.

Joanna Baxter, of Unison, said councils and the Scottish Government were using workers as a “political football”.

She said: "We're in the ridiculous position where both of them agree that this offer is not sufficient but they just cannot agree which of their organisations is responsible for funding an improved offer."