Glasgow primary, secondary and ASL schools have all closed their doors today, February 28, amid an ongoing pay dispute.
Educational establishments will be closed across two days, with further targeted strike action also set to take place across schools in certain parts of the city.
The closures are the latest strike days impacting schools across Glasgow, with a 20 days of rolling industrial action also scheduled in the coming weeks and months.
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Douglas Hutchison, executive director of education at Glasgow City Council has written to parents and carers to inform them of the closures with the intention for all our standalone nurseries and nursery classes to be open as normal.
He wrote: "I understand that this continues to cause disruption to families and that parents and carers are concerned about the impact on their children.
"Our hope is that a satisfactory resolution can be found as the national talks continue between the unions, the Scottish Government and COSLA."
So when is the strikes happening? Here is what you need to know.
When are the Glasgow school strikes happening?
The industrial action by teacher unions amid the ongoing pay dispute will see schools in Glasgow closed to all pupils today (Tuesday, February 28). Strikes will also continue into tomorrow with schools set to remain closed on Wednesday, March 1.
Targeted Glasgow school strikes - why is this happening?
Schools in Nicola Sturgeon's constituency have been 'targeted' with extra strike days amid the current pay disputes. In addition to the current First Minister's area, the union has also singled out areas covered Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish Green education spokesman Ross Greer and Katie Hagmann, the resources spokeswoman for local authority body Cosla, for further action.
As previously reported by Glasgow Live, children attending schools in the constituencies of 'key decision-makers' in the long-running pay dispute will face a further six days of disruption as the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) escalates industrial action.
Parents have said the targeted strikes branding it “inequitable and unfair” for pupils in the affected areas. It comes after the EIS rejected the latest pay offer put to it by Ms Somerville, the MSP for Dunfermline in Fife, which would have meant a 6 per cent pay boost backdated to April, 2022 for teachers who earn up to £80,000 and a further 5.5 per cent from the start of the 2023 financial year, in what is the fifth offer put to them.
EIS president Andrene Bamford said the resolve of the teaching workforce to push for a 10 per cent pay rise remains. EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Today’s intensification of strike action is a direct result of the failure of the Scottish Government and Cosla to deliver an acceptable pay offer to Scotland’s teachers.
“As a result, this intensified strike action is targeted directly at the politicians with the ability to deliver a better pay offer that can end this pay dispute – just as is happening in health.”
She added: “Parents and students have every right to be angry at the fact that local and national politicians continue to collude in withholding a fair settlement from Scotland’s teachers."
Targeted Glasgow school strikes - dates
In addition to the industrial action across the next two days, targeted strikes will affect the Glasgow Southside constituency. Three dates have already passed with three more to follow. This includes:
- Tuesday March 7
- Wednesday March 8
- Thursday March 9
Targeted Glasgow school strikes - what schools are closing
According to Glasgow City Council, "schools in this area are communicating directly with their families on any local arrangements."
You can keep an eye on your school and any closures through the GCC website.
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