Councils start confirming which schools will close if strike goes ahead
Unions warn time is running out to stop a three-day walkout
Last updated 15th Sep 2023
Working parents across Glasgow and the west of Scotland are scrambling to make alternative childcare plans as local councils begin confirming they will close their schools if a three-day strike by support workers goes ahead.
Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire sent out confirmation last night, hours after union leaders rejected the latest pay offer, calling it “insulting”.
Now Glasgow City and West Dunbartonshire are following suit.
Support staff are set to walk out from Tuesday 26th September through to Thursday 28th September with unions warning times is running out to reach an agreement.
A letter to parents from East Renfrewshire Council said: “Regretfully, given the extent of the action on this occasion, all primary and secondary schools and Isobel Mair School, will be closed to all pupils.”
“No significant improvement”
GMB Scotland called the latest proposal by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) "far too little, far too late"
It said would provide at least a £1,929 increase in annual salary for workers by January 1, 2024.
The union, which represents more than 21,000 workers across Scotland's 32 councils, said strikes involving cleaning, janitorial, catering and pupil support will now go ahead without a revised offer and urged ministers to intervene.
Scotland's largest public sector union, Unison, also rejected the pay deal which it claimed was an increase of just £0.01 per hour or 0.17% on the previous offer.
Unite has slammed COSLA for taking twenty-three weeks to offer the lowest paid council workers an extra 38p per week or £20 per year.
“No choice” - GMB
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public services, said: "The latest offer is no significant improvement on the previous offer that was overwhelmingly rejected.
"Strike action is not something our members ever take lightly, but after a long, frustrating process, they have been left with no choice.
"This offer, like the previous offer, does not come close to maintaining the value of their wages as prices rise. It is far too little and far too late.
"Why should local authority workers in Scotland be offered less than in England? Why should they be asked to accept the unacceptable?
Scottish Government reaction
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Local government pay negotiations are a matter for local authorities as employers and unions.
"The Scottish Government and Cosla have committed to respect this negotiating arrangement as part of the Verity House Agreement.
"Despite UK Government cuts, the Scottish Government has provided a further £155 million in 2023-24 to support a meaningful pay rise for local government workers, which has been taken into account in the pay offer made by Cosla.
"We continue our engagement with Cosla on how staff and services are supported this year and next."
First Minister Humza Yusuf said: "We're here to support as best as we possibly can.
"But it is important that these negotiations are between COSAL, local authorities as the employers, and of course the trade unions as the representatives."