All schools and nurseries in both North and South Lanarkshire are to be closed for three days next week as support staff go on strike in a pay dispute.
Pupils are being told not to attend “early years establishments, nurseries, primary, secondary and additional support needs schools” during the industrial action, taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 6-8.
It comes as members of trade unions Unison and Unite – who include cleaners, janitors, classroom assistants, catering and administrative staff – take industrial action after rejecting the tabled pay offer from local government organisation Cosla.
North Lanarkshire Council say online lessons will be provided during the strike action, while low-income families qualifying for free school meals will receive a bank payment or voucher for the equivalent cost.
They have informed families that “if the strike goes ahead, you will need to consider making alternative arrangements for childcare on the days of industrial action”.
South Lanarkshire officials announced a similar three-day closure, and will also provide online learning and a £7.50 school meal payment into bank accounts by next Thursday.
A statement from North Lanarkshire Council outlining the September 6-8 closure said: “Schools and educational establishments cannot operate for pupils without janitorial, cleaning, catering, technician, early years and other school support staff.
“Young people should not attend school premises during the three days of strike action; online learning will be arranged directly by schools and communicated to parents, carers and pupils in primary, secondary and ASN schools.
“As all schools and early years establishments will be closed to children, there will not be any school meal provision, school transport, breakfast clubs or school crossing patrols over the three days of industrial action. Teachers, early years and other support staff who are not striking will continue to work.”
The same closure of all education facilities is scheduled to take place in South Lanarkshire from Tuesday to Friday and was announced on the council’s official social media accounts, saying. “Teachers will provide appropriate tasks and activities for pupils to undertake at home using digital platforms, traditional approaches or both.”
A letter to families states: “Given the impact that this withdrawal of labour by janitorial, cleaning, catering and support staff will have, the council has taken the decision to close the school on health and safety grounds on these days.
“We regret the inconvenience that the school closure will cause families and at this stage would urge you to make plans for alternative arrangements for your child during this time.”
Both Lanarkshire councils are among nine across Scotland where Unite and Unison members are taking action in the dispute over pay, after rejecting a tabled five per cent increase.
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore said the strike action “is a direct response to the abject failure by both Cosla and the Scottish Government to fund a fair pay offer, particularly for the lowest paid.
“It’s a disgrace that schools and early years services now face closure, causing further disruption to families – it’s time for the politicians to realise the gravity of this dispute and take responsibility before this situation dramatically escalates.”
Johanna Baxter of Unison said: “Council workers are struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis after 10 years of austerity; this is another pay cut they simply cannot afford.
“[Our] negotiators have worked day and night to find a solution to this crisis. We welcome the contribution the Scottish Government have made to date and Cosla’s agreement to a one-off cost-of-living increase.
“However as we have repeatedly told them both, the current cost envelope is simply not big enough to deliver a decent consolidated wage rise for the majority of our members.”
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