Schools across Stirling are set to be closed for three days next week as a result of strike action from school workers.
The industrial action will come into effect from Tuesday (September 6) to Thursday (September 8) and comes as a result of a continued dispute between COSLA and the Unison union over pay.
A letter from Stirling Council’s head of education Bryony Monaghan to parents confirmed the strike dates and that all nurseries, primaries and additional support needs provisions will be closed over the period of strike action.
A trio of high schools in the region – Stirling High, Bannockburn High and Wallace High – will also be closed to pupils, although all other secondaries will remain open.
In the letter, Ms Monaghan stresses the decision has been based on “ensuring the safety and security” of young people and staff and also on the expected staffing levels available across these settings due to the strike action.
All nurseries, primaries, ASN provisions and secondaries affected will fully re-open on Friday (September 9).
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Chris Kane, said: “After a thorough review of the likely impact of the strikes on our schools, a final decision has today been made to close all primary schools, additional support needs settings as well as Stirling, Wallace and Bannockburn High schools during the strike period.
“We’ve taken these decisions to ensure the safety and security of our young people and staff.
“We’ll issue more information for parents and carers shortly to confirm details on the learning and support provision we’ll put in place over the three days of the strikes, but it was important that we alerted parents and carers as soon as possible to the closures in order that everybody has time to put in place appropriate arrangements.”
Meanwhile, preparations are also being made over a proposed further round of industrial action from waste and recycling workers set for between September 7 and September 10.
Bin collections are expected to be disrupted until Sunday from the impact of this week’s action – with the priority being placed currently on the collection of grey, healthcare and brown bins.
Green and blue bins will not be collected until after Sunday and residents are being urged not to put these bins out until their next date.
Mark Ferguson, chair of Unison’s local government committee, said: “This is the first time since devolution that we have embarked on industrial action like this. Half of council workers earn less than £25,000 per year and 85 per cent earn less than £39,000 per year – they are all worrying about paying their bills.
“Inflation is continuing to rise, and our members are being asked to take a real-terms pay cut which will plunge even more of them into debt.
“Strike action is the last resort and we are always open to get around the table to reach a solution.”
