Strikes Shut Down Schools in Swinney’s Constituency
Strikes Shut Down Schools in Swinney’s Constituency
Perth and Kinross was brought to a standstill on [Date] as a wave of strikes hit the region. All primary schools in the area were forced to close after non-teaching staff, members of the union Unison, walked out in protest over pay. The action was specifically targeted at First Minister John Swinney’s constituency, aiming to exert pressure on the government.
All of the primary schools in Perth and Kinross are closed after non-teaching school staff began strike action in First Minister John Swinney’s constituency.
Members of the union Unison, which includes janitors and classroom assistants, have walked out over pay for all council workers – meaning 50 schools and early years centres will be closed today and could remain closed for two weeks.
Strikes Shut Down Schools in Swinney’s Constituency
The union has targeted the first minister’s constituency with hopes of putting pressure on Mr Swinney.
The latest pay offer – an increase of either 3.6% or £1,292 – was made in August to see off the threat of bin strikes and it was accepted by GMB and Unite but not Unison, the biggest council union.
The dispute centers around a pay offer of either 3.6% or £1,292 that was made in August. While this offer was accepted by GMB and Unite, Unison, the largest council union, rejected it, citing the need for a more substantial increase to address the long-term decline in council workers’ pay.
As a result of the strike, 50 schools and early years centers were closed, leaving parents and guardians scrambling to find childcare arrangements. The council stated that it was unable to conduct risk assessments due to the recent October holidays, necessitating the closure of all primary schools. However, they assured that the situation would be reviewed daily, and updates would be provided on the council website.
While all secondary schools remained open, with the exception of St John’s Academy in Perth and the Community School of Auchterarder, the impact of the strike was significant. Before and after school care was also closed, and payments were made to families whose children were eligible for free school meals.
The walkout by Unison members is expected to continue for at least two weeks, potentially extending into November. This could result in schools being closed for a full month, causing further disruption to education and the local economy.
Strikes Shut Down Schools in Swinney’s Constituency
Both the Scottish government and the council body Cosla have maintained that there are no additional funds available for pay deals this year. While GMB and Unite are pushing for the 3.6% increase to be implemented as soon as possible, Unison has threatened a national strike ballot if the dispute remains unresolved.
The union argues that council staff have experienced a significant decline in the value of their pay over the past 14 years, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain employees. They believe that a more substantial pay increase is necessary to address this issue and ensure the long-term viability of essential council services.
John Swinney has condemned the targeting of his constituency, stating that it is “totally unacceptable” to punish constituents simply because he is the First Minister. He emphasized that the pay offer provided by Cosla addressed the key demands of the trade unions and that there are no further funds available.
The ongoing strike has highlighted the challenges faced by council workers and the difficulties in achieving a satisfactory pay settlement. As the dispute continues, it remains to be seen whether the parties involved can reach a resolution that will allow schools to reopen and mitigate the disruption caused to families and communities.
