MASS school closures are expected across Scotland after “the largest ever vote for strike action by school staff”.
Trade union Unison said that 24 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities would be impacted after staff were balloted on whether to accept a new pay offer amid an ongoing dispute.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) had put forward an offer of pay rises worth around 5.5% on average.
But Unison said there was an “overwhelming vote in favour of strike action in every council” after balloting closed on Friday morning – though the legal threshold of 50% turnout was not met in every area.
Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, and Perth and all among the councils which will be affected.
School staff vote to strike in 24 councils in Scotland in local government pay dispute This is UNISON’s strongest ever strike mandate in local government, which shows the level of anger felt by staff. #PayUpForCouncilStaffhttps://t.co/8OPHugaX3e pic.twitter.com/Ct9BT0YGIM
— UNISON Scotland (@unisonscot) August 25, 2023
The trade union’s Scottish secretary, Lilian Macer, said: “This is Unison’s strongest ever strike mandate in local government, which shows the level of anger felt by staff.
“The union will do everything possible to get back around the table with Cosla to resolve this dispute. School staff would prefer to be in school working with children, not on picket lines and closing dozens of schools.
“But the Scottish government and Cosla should be in no doubt about the determination of school staff and they’ll do what it takes to get an improved pay deal for all local government workers."
The union said it was the largest ever vote for strike action by school staff in Scotland and would mean "mass closures" across the country.
Mark Ferguson, the chair of Unison Scotland’s local government committee, added: “School staff across Scottish local government have voted to strike in unprecedented numbers. Cosla must address the union’s calls for improved fair pay that recognises and rewards them for the vital work they do in their communities.
“Cosla leaders are meeting today and if they fail to address the reasonable demands on the back of such a significant mandate, schools across Scotland will close and nobody wants that.
“Unison remains committed to dialogue and hopes a satisfactory resolution can be found before staff are forced to take industrial action.”
Cosla have been asked for comment.
While dates for strike action have not been confirmed, Unison said that the following 24 councils would be impacted:
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Angus
- City of Edinburgh
- Clackmannanshire
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
- Dumfries & Galloway
- Dundee City
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Fife
- Glasgow City
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Moray
- North Ayrshire
- Orkney Islands
- Perth & Kinross
- Renfrewshire
- Shetland Islands
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Stirling
- West Dunbartonshire
