Schools close in Perth and Kinross due to strikes

All primary schools and two secondary schools in Perth and Kinross (First Minister John Swinney’s constituency) are closed due to non-teaching staff strikes over pay.

Union Unison has launched a two-week action targeting Mr Swinney’s seat after members working in schools in non-teaching roles, including cleaners and classroom assistants, rejected a pay offer from local authority body Cosla.

The agreement included a pay rise of 67p an hour, or 3.6 per cent, whichever was higher, and was accepted by the other two main unions, with council leaders voting in favor of a pay rise for staff.

The strike by Unison members follows the two-week October school holidays, meaning schools could be closed for a month.

A statement published on the Perth and Kinross Council website said all primary schools, nurseries, intensive support settings and two secondary schools, St John’s Academy Perth and Auchterarder Community School, will be closed today (Monday 21 October).

The council was unable to carry out a risk assessment of primary schools and nurseries due to the October holidays, meaning facilities could not reopen immediately.

The council said: “a small number of primary schools” could open later this week, but the situation is likely to remain “fluid” throughout the promotion and “may change for individual schools on a day-to-day basis.”

It said distance learning would be provided while schools were closed as teachers were not taking part in the strike.

Mr Swinney previously called the attack on his seat “unacceptable”, saying there was “no justification” for it and there was The Scottish Government no longer has money to hand over to local authorities to fund a better deal.

Colette Hunter, chair of Unison’s local government committee in Scotland, previously accused Mr Swinney of making “inflammatory allegations against hard-working council staff” and that, as First Minister, he “has the power and means to resolve this dispute and avoid school closures “

She said: “This year teachers have received a 4.6 per cent pay rise, NHS staff have received a 5.5 per cent rise, MSPs have received a 6.7 per cent rise and some councilors have received a 13 per cent pay rise. 8 percent.

“Council staff have been left behind again – they have every reason to put pressure on the Scottish Government to find a solution.”

Unison has warned of a national strike if the dispute is not resolved.

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