Schools across Scotland could close as unions plan strikes in row over council pay

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Schools across Scotland could be shut by a wave of strike action as a trade union today escalated a dispute over pay for council workers.Unison, which represents 85,000 local authority staff, hit out at Cosla and accused the local government body of having learned nothing from last year's industrial action.The union said staff were due a cost-of-living pay increase in April after a claim was submitted to Cosla in January but has yet to receive a response.The pay claim saw the union ask for an above one-year inflation increase for those on the lowest wages, on top of the previously agreed plan to introduce the minimum rate to £15 per hour by 2026.It also asks for a seven per cent increase to all spinal columns – or pay scales – or a £1.60 increase to the hourly rate.Schools in several parts of the country closed over a similar pay dispute last year.David O’Connor, Unison’s local government organiser, said: "Cosla has to understand the growing anger among local government workers over how they are treated year after year in pay negotiations."It is no wonder local government workers are left feeling disappointed and frustrated when their employers haven’t even bothered to respond to the pay claim."Without investment in the local government workforce there will be no public services – Cosla must recognise local government workers for the vital services they provide and ensure they are fairly rewarded.”Colette Hunter, the union’s local government chair, said: “It would appear that Cosla has learned nothing from last year’s pay dispute which resulted in school closures across Scotland.“The last thing anyone wants to do is take strike action, but if Cosla continue to ignore our pay claim then we may be left with no choice.“Whil