Schools across Scotland are getting hit by strike action this week as members from two teachers' unions walk out.
The strikes being staged by the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) and the NASUWT union come just two weeks after a similar protest by the EIS – Scotland's largest teaching union when almost all schools in the country were forced to shut on November 24.
This wave of strike action is "unlikely" to have the same impact, a third of councils expect "significant" disruption. The strikes this week will mainly affect secondary schools, although some primary schools will be affected.
The strike will have a different effect on schools across the country with Glasgow City Council saying that "each school will have different plans as the numbers in the two unions taking action – the SSTA and NASUWT – will vary".
The strikes come as part of a dispute over pay between the teaching unions and the Scottish Government and local government body COSLA.
This round of action will see strikes mainly against authorities in the west of Scotland on Wednesday and then switching to the remaining council areas on Thursday.
Here are all the areas that will be taking part in the strike and on which day.
School strikes - Wednesday, December 7
- Argyll and Bute
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Eilean Siar
- Glasgow, City of
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Orkney
- Renfrewshire
- Shetland
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
School strikes - Thursday, December 8
- Aberdeen, City of
- Angus
- Aberdeenshire
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee City
- Edinburgh, City of
- East Lothian
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Midlothian
- Moray
- Perth and Kinross
- Scottish Borders
- Stirling
- West Lothian
In Edinburgh, where action will take place on Thursday, the council said that "only 10% of the workforce will be involved, we will keep as many schools open as possible".
Aberdeen Council will also be impacted by strike action on Thursday, with a list of closures available on the council website, while Fife Council has confirmed that all secondary schools will be closed to students on the same day.
The action comes after teachers rejected an offer from the employers last month, with the SSTA branding it a "pathetic and insulting”"offer to teachers.
Seamus Searson, SSTA general secretary said: "Hopefully, the employers and the Scottish Government will understand that all teacher unions in Scotland are united in seeking a fair and reasonable pay settlement and there needs to be a willingness to solve the pay dispute.
"The latest offer was quickly rejected by the teachers’ unions and was deliberately divisive and inadequate.
"This apparent show of contempt to teachers by this offer has hardened the resolve of members and forced the SSTA to take the strongest form of action."
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