Hundreds of schools close as support staff take strike action across Scotland
Janitors, cleaners and classroom assistants are among those taking strike action across four local authorities in Scotland
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.School support staff at four local authorities will walk out on Wednesday in a continuing dispute with councils over pay.
Workers including janitors, cleaners and pupil support assistants are among those who will take strike action in East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow – which will see hundreds of schools close.
Some schools may remain open for pupils in S4-6 preparing for exams.
Wednesday’s action is part of rolling strikes by Unison members, scheduled to take place across the country in the coming weeks after the union rejected a pay offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla).
The revised offer represents a minimum increase of £2,006 for workers on the Scottish local government living wage, and a minimum of £1,929 for those above the rate.
The living wage of £10.85 will rise to £11.89 per hour – equivalent to a 9.6 per cent increase.
Unison has also served notice of further strike action to South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh and Fife councils – which will take place on November 8.
Members are also expected to gather on Buchanan Street in Glasgow for a rally at 12pm on Wednesday.
Johanna Baxter, Unison Scotland head of local government, said: “The last thing we want is to cause disruption for pupils and parents, but school staff have been left with no other option.
“Workers are taking action because they want children to be educated in well-resourced, well-staffed schools and they want to start trying to reverse the years of under-investment in both the workforce and services.
“While no deal has yet been reached, we continue to have constructive dialogue with Cosla and we remain committed to resolving this dispute as soon as possible.”
Workers are taking action because they want children to be educated in well-resourced, well-staffed schools and they want to start trying to reverse the years of under-investment in both the workforce and services
Mark Ferguson, chair of Unison Scotland’s local government committee, said: “Our members voted overwhelmingly to reject Cosla’s pay offer and are determined to fight for the improved pay offer they deserve.
“Cosla and the Scottish government need to give school staff a decent wage rise, fund any increase properly and commit to implementing a minimum underpinning rate of pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers.”
Katie Hagmann, Cosla’s resources spokesperson, previously said it had put “an incredibly strong half a billion pound pay package on the table” and that the results of Unison’s strike ballot was “disappointing”.
“Offering almost 10 per cent or a £2,006 pay increase for lowest-paid workers, which the unions asked for, and £1,929 or at least 5.5 per cent for everyone else, is as far as local government can go without impacting service and jobs,” she said.