HUNDREDS of schools in Scotland will be closed as support staff begin a three-day strike in 24 of the country’s 32 councils.
Thousands of pupils have been told to stay at home as members of the union Unison walk out in their row over pay.
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A renewed offer from Cosla and last-minute talks over the weekend failed to halt action from the union with the largest representation.
Unite and GMB have suspended strike plans while members are consulted.
In Aberdeen, all schools will be closed today, with a review of the number of staff attending triggering a review of risk assessments and arrangements for Wednesday and Thursday.
In Aberdeenshire, schools have been making their own decisions and letting parents and carers know directly.
An Aberdeenshire council spokesman said: “As of this moment we have 37 schools closed, 58 early learning/nurseries closed, 23 partial closures and 105 schools open.”
Dispute
The dispute is over a pay offer for non-teaching staff including janitors, canteen workers, classroom assistants, cleaners, admin staff and nursery staff.
A deadline was set for Wednesday last week for local authority body Cosla to make an improved pay offer – this was extended while it sought money from the deputy first minister.
The Scottish Government then freed up £80million in ring-fenced funding to enable a new deal, which included a rise of about £2,000 a year for the lowest paid.
Mark Ferguson, who is Unison’s chair of local government, told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme the dispute was about years of under-funding and job cuts as well as pay.
He said: “It’s unclear exactly what the in-year value (of the new offer) is. We’ve had two pieces of correspondence – one from the Scottish government and one from Cosla – and they conflict with each other.
“Neither can explain exactly where this money is coming from and we don’t want it to come from more cuts to jobs and services.”
GMB Scotland said the offer was “not perfect but a clear improvement” and moved to suspend strikes, along with Unite.
Members of those unions were now faced with the prospect of having to cross Unison picket lines.
