GMB Scotland warns of disruption when school staff strike
Two days of strike action risks disruption at Scots schools
Parents and pupils have been warned of disruption after GMB Scotland announced essential staff in schools and early years will strike for two days next month.
The industrial action will affect almost a third of councils across Scotland and comes after local authority workers overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer.
GMB members in Scotland’s councils voted to support industrial action after Cosla, representing local authorities, refused to revise the offer or ask the Scottish Government for support.
The union, which represents more than 21,000 workers across Scotland’s 32 councils, today served notice on ten local authorities telling them staff in schools and early years working across catering, cleaning, pupil support, administration and janitorial services will strike next month.
Industrial action involving the staff but not including teachers will take place on Wednesday 13 September and the following day, in Aberdeen, Clackmannanshire, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Orkney, Renfrewshire and South Ayrshire.
Sister unions are also likely to call strikes in schools and early years in September with the members of one already voting for industrial action while another is currently balloting members.
The ballot came after 94% of the GMB Scotland’s members rejected the councils’ offer of 5.5% in April branding it unacceptable when inflation has surged triggering a cost-of-living crisis.
The union said the Cosla offer would mean a rise for the lowest-paid workers in Scotland’s councils £700 less this year than that offered to colleagues in England and Wales
GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services, Keir Greenaway warned a meeting next Friday [25 August] will be the final opportunity for Cosla to avert disruptive strikes.
“The latest figures show that, despite rising wages, pay is still being outstripped by inflation.
“The pay offer to council workers does not come close to matching the surging cost of living and one that is worth less with every month that passes.
“Scotland stands on the shoulders of our local authority workers and the value of their work must be reflected in their salaries.
“Cosla has refused to seriously engage with our members during what has been a protracted, frustrating process. If they had, parents and pupils would not now be facing disruption.
“Cosla and Scottish ministers need to engage now or risk turning a crisis into a calamity.”
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Contact: GMB Scotland Communications: gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk
