Crunch time for schools strike dispute as Stirling three-day walkout planned for next week

dailyrecord.co.uk:

It is D-day in efforts to avoid strike action in Stirling’s schools as a union dispute threatens to close the doors next week.Officials for the Unison union rejected a revised pay deal from Cosla last week and placed a deadline of 5pm this evening for an acceptable deal to be struck or staff will walk out for three days next week, forcing the closure of schools across the country.The strikes are planned for September 26-28, with Unison officials blasting the fresh offer as “miniscule” and said it did not offer benefits to members at all pay levels.The union claimed the revised offer would provide an increase of only 0.17 per cent - with a pay bump of only 1p per hour from the start of next year for those earning £25,000 a year or less.The action will affect an estimated 21,000 members of the union working in schools in roles such as cleaners, caterers, janitors and school support assistants - with both primary and secondary schools set to be impacted.Unison Scotland head of local government, Johanna Baxter said: “It is deeply disappointing that it has taken Cosla five months since our members rejected the initial offer to present such insignificant changes.“We have made very clear that Cosla must put forward a significantly improved offer to avert mass school strikes.“Members of our Local Government Committee this morning described this offer as insulting.“It is staggering that Cosla have still not approached, and continue to refuse to approach, the Scottish Government for additional funding to make a meaningful improvement to the pay offer.“Given the state of local authority budgets we believe this to be a dereliction of the duty to stand up for local government and fight for the funding needed to both properly reward