Council pay talks ‘closed’, says Swinney, as school strikes hit his constituency

Scotland’s First Minister said negotiations over council workers’ pay were “closed” as he condemned the “completely unacceptable” attack on his constituents by a union.

Unison has announced a two-week strike by non-teaching school staff in the Perth and Kinross council area after the union voted down a new pay deal.

Unite and the GMB backed the deal, which included a 67p an hour increase or 3.6%, whichever was greater, for staff, and the deal was forced on workers.

The action led to the closure of a number of primary schools and nurseries, and Perth and Kinross Council was unable to carry out a risk assessment during the October holidays, leading to disruption earlier this week.

All primary schools, kindergartens, intensive care facilities and two secondary schools in the area were closed on Monday.

On Tuesday, 11 elementary schools were able to open, but dozens remained closed and others only partially reopened.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Tuesday, the First Minister echoed the words of his finance minister, Shona Robison, who said on Monday there was no more money to pay wages.

“There will be no renewal of payment agreements in 2024-25,” he said.

“I’m very happy to discuss future years, but this year is closed.”

Mr Swinney also criticized Unison’s decision to target his area.

“What is completely unacceptable to me is the fact that education in my constituency has been disrupted solely because I represent that area,” he said.

“My constituents were singled out for treatment simply because their MP is First Minister and I find this completely unacceptable.”

Asked what his message to the union would be, the First Minister said: “I would advise Unison to have substantive discussions with its local authority employers about the arrangements for the wage agreement for 2025-26 as the next financial year.

“This is where the solution to this particular difficulty will be: it cannot be to restart in 2024-25 because there is no more money to put into the payments agreement.”

In a statement, Perth and Kinross Council said: “The industrial action taken by Unison employees as part of a national dispute over pay continues to impact schools in Perth and Kinross.”

The council said it was “pleased” that some schools could reopen, but warned that the “situation in each school is subject to change on a daily basis”.

Unison has been contacted for comment.