Scottish school strike date revealed following a rejected pay offer
Unison have once again rejected a pay offer from COSLA meaning school support staff will strike on Wednesday 1st November.
Last month more than 21,000 Unison members went on strike for three days at 1,868 schools in Scotland over a dispute of pay. Following this, COSLA, an organisation that represents the voice of local authorities and works with the Scottish government, offered a minimum increase of £2,006 for workers on the Scottish local government living wage, and a minimum of £1,929 for those above the rate.
However, the offer was not well accepted. Mark Ferguson, Unison Scotland’s local government committee chair, urged COSLA and the Scottish government to fund wage increases properly by increasing them to £15 an hour.
He said: ‘No one takes the decision to strike lightly. I’m a parent myself, so I understand the disruption strikes causes.’
The latest round of industrial action will involve non-teaching staff including catering, cleaning, pupil support, administration and janitorial workers in schools and early years centres. This strike will also be the first in a rolling programme across different council areas and further dates will be announced in due course.
Unison said members would walk out in Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
Johanna Baxter, head of local government at Unison Scotland, said: ‘The strength of feeling amongst Unison school staff, who voted overwhelmingly to reject COSLA’s latest pay offer is clear for all to see.
‘Both in terms of ballot votes and the number of people on picket lines across Scotland.
‘We’ve also seen a surge in Unison membership. That’s a testament to the strength of local government workers’ resolve to continue their fight for fair pay.’
Ms Baxter has encouraged COSLA to revisit their negotiating table and come up with a better offer.
Image: LaTerrian McIntosh
Educational psychologists to strike following ‘astounding’ U-turn by employers
‘Extreme disruption’ expected as 72-hour junior doctors and consultants strike begins
