School support staff in Glasgow to walk out next month

They will be joined by colleagues in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

Published 18th Oct 2023

Cleaners, janitors and support staff in schools across Glasgow will walk out in a row over pay next month after rejecting the latest pay offer from COSLA.

UNISON members will be joined by their colleagues in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde on November 1.

UNISON Scotland head of local government Johanna Baxter 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."

This is the first part of a rolling programme of action that will take place over the forthcoming weeks.

More strike action is planned right across Scotland in the coming weeks.

UNISON Scotland chair of the local government committee Mark Ferguson said: “No one takes the decision to strike lightly.

“I’m a parent myself, so I understand the disruption strikes cause.

"But if wages don’t rise, school staff will leave for other jobs beyond education that pay significantly more. That would be a disaster and would help no one."

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