South Lanarkshire schools set to close due to strikes as union rejects pay offer

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Schools in South Lanarkshire are set to close later this month due to strike action.Unison has rejected the latest “insulting” pay offer from employers ahead of strike action by school support staff from Tuesday to Thursday, September 26 to 28.The union warned that mass strikes will go ahead later unless there is a “significantly improved offer” from employers.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) on Wednesday made a two-part offer that it said would provide at least a £1929 increase in annual salary for workers by January 1 next year.Cosla said the offer would mean the lowest paid workers would see a 21 per cent increase in their pay over a two-year period.Unison Scotland’s local government committee met on Thursday morning and voted unanimously to reject Cosla’s revised offer outright, saying it represents an increase on the previous offer of only 0.17 per cent.South Lanarkshire is one of 24 local authority areas which will be affected.

Schools in North Lanarkshire remain unaffected.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