Schools to close in Edinburgh, Fife, South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway s UNISON to strike

More schools across Scotland will be forced to close after staff strikes are confirmed in eight council areas.

Unison has told local authorities in Edinburgh, Fife, South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway that workers will take industrial action next month.

Staff will walk on out Wednesday, November 8, amid an ongoing dispute over pay.

It’s the second week of a rolling programme of action that will take place with further strike dates at other councils being announced in due course, according to Unison.

The trade union had already notified Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde councils, that staff working in schools and early years establishments linked to schools will be taking strike action on November 1.

The move comes after Unison members voted overwhelmingly to reject COSLA’s latest pay offer.

More than 21,000 workers represented by the union took three days of strike action in September, resulting in the closure of 75% of Scotland’s schools.

Johanna Baxter, Unison Scotland’s head of local government, said: “Despite our repeated calls for Cosla and the Scottish government to get back round the table for meaningful discussions we have had no invitations to even exploratory talks.

“The union is committed to reaching a resolution to this dispute as soon as possible. And there is still time for COSLA and the Scottish Government to get back round the negotiating table to explore every avenue to reaching a negotiated settlement and avoid further disruption for parents and students.”

The strength of feeling amongst Unison’s 91,000 local government members, who voted overwhelmingly to reject COSLA’s latest pay offer, is clear. They are determined to continue to fight to get an improved pay offer.”