A ROLLING programme of strike action will take place in schools across the country in the coming weeks, UNISON has announced.

Members of the union voted overwhelmingly to reject Cosla’s pay offer, with nine in ten workers (89.92 per cent) voting against the offer in a consultative ballot.

Dates of the strike action will be announced in the coming days.

A total of 24 local authority areas will be affected including Renfrewshire, Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire.  

Lilian Macer, UNISON’s Scottish secretary, said: “No one takes industrial action lightly. It’s a very difficult decision for anyone, but as much as this is about pay, it’s also about standing up for local services.

“The school staff taking part in strike action support children in school every day of the year, and many are parents with school-age children too.

"Workers are taking action because they want children to be educated in well-resourced, well-staffed schools. They want to start trying to reverse years of cuts and under-investment in the workforce and services.

“No one wants to cause disruption for pupils and parents, but school staff have been left with no other option. The blame must be laid squarely at the door of Cosla and Scottish ministers. They have it within their gift to end the strike, but they are showing no sign of wanting to do so. That’s a terrible shame for everyone affected.”

Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee, added: “UNISON’s local government members have voted overwhelmingly to reject this offer, which shows their resolve to fight for the fair pay they deserve.

“I’m a parent myself, so I understand the disruption these strikes cause. But if wages don’t rise, school staff will leave for other jobs beyond education that pay significantly more an hour. That would be a disaster and would help no one.

“The current offer amounts to a real-terms pay cut and adds further stress to a dedicated workforce who are already suffering from the cost-of-living crisis.

"Cosla and the Scottish government need to give school staff a decent pay rise, fund any increase properly and commit to implementing a pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers.”