Unions suspend school strike action across Scotland next week

Two of the country's largest unions are recommending workers suspend planned strike action in schools amongst cleaners and janitors across Scotland between Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) said its "significantly improved in-year offer" would mean workers on the Scottish local government living wage would see an uplift of around £2,000, or almost 10%

Unite and GMB are balloting members on the latest pay offer from COSLA and is recommending the accept.

For pupils and parents it means schools in North Lanarkshire will now be open.

Unite welcomes new offer

Graham McNab, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government, welcomed the new offer, he said: “Unite’s local government committee has agreed to suspend the scheduled strike action next week. We will now hold a ballot involving our members on the new pay offer which comes with a recommendation for acceptance.”

“Unite’s primary objective all along has been to negotiate a credible offer that addresses chronic low pay in local government. It is an offer that should have been put on the table months ago if it were not for the dithering and blundering by COSLA and Scottish Government ministers.”

“We believe the offer makes sufficient progress on low pay, and it is one that our wider membership should have its say on.”

The new offer represents a minimum increase of £2006 for those on the Scottish Local Government Living Wage, and a minimum of £1929 for all those above from 1 April 2023.

The hourly Living Wage of £10.85 rises to £11.89 under the offer, which is the equivalent to a 9.6 per cent increase. The overall pay offer is estimated to cost around £580m.

GMB response

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said: “It would be wrong to suggest this offer is not a clear improvement on those that came before it, especially for the lowest paid workers.

“COSLA has itself highlighted how far it has advanced since April which only begs the question why it took so many months to make an offer worth discussing with our members?

“We remain disappointed it took first the threat and then the looming reality of strike action in Scotland’s schools before we saw any sign of leadership from COSLA."

Unison rejection

UNISON which has a mandate in 24 council areas across Scotland is recommending their members reject the pay offer saying it's "too little too late".

Cosla said the new offer was made on condition that the unions take it to their members for full consideration and that strikes are suspended with immediate effect whilst they do so.

Its resources spokeswoman Katie Hagmann said: "This really is our best and final offer, we have nowhere to go after this.

"We have gone beyond our limits in a bid to satisfy our workforce and avert next week's strikes."

Unions have warned more than three-quarters of schools will close if the strike goes ahead, affecting 26 of Scotland's 32 council areas.

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