Scotland risks 'grinding to a halt' as teachers join nurses and train drivers in voting for strikes

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland faces grinding to a halt this winter after teachers became the latest workers to vote for strikes yesterday - meaning they could soon join nurses and train drivers on picket lines.Postal workers and civil servants are also planning industrial action after rejecting below-inflation wage offers.The Scottish and UK Governments are being urged to get round the table with trade unions to prevent the country sliding into "strike chaos".John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, yesterday blamed "stupid economic decisions" by the UK Government for fuelling inflation, which is running at a 40-year high.Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's deputy leader, said: "The SNP and the Tories need to get a grip before Scotland grinds to a halt."From hospitals to schools to our railways, their disastrous incompetence will leave us with strike chaos and a broken Scotland."It is shameful that the same workers we praised during the pandemic are now being forced to fight for their pay and conditions during a cost of living crisis."Scots are facing another winter of discontent if the SNP and Tories don’t get round the table to agree a fair deal for these dedicated frontline workers."Scotland now faces a wave of strike action after unions announced the results of a series of ballots this week.The Educational Institute of Scotland, the country's largest teaching union, said the vast majority of its members had voted in favour of walkouts - which could start as early as this month.Andrea Bradley, EIS general secretary, said: "A move to strike action is always a last resort, but our members have become increasingly angry over their treatment by their employers and by the Scottish Government."The last pay offer, a sub-inflation five per cent,