Second union ballots Dumfries and Galloway school staff over potential strike action

A second union is balloting school staff in Dumfries and Galloway after they rejected a new pay deal.

And that could lead to strike action from janitors, cleaners and classroom assistants.

The Unite union is consulting members on industrial action in all 32 of Scotland’s council areas after they overwhelmingly rejected the five per cent pay rise on offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

The GMB union has already started a ballot of its members to see if they are willing to take action after also rejecting COSLA’s offer.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Unite has repeatedly warned both the Scottish Government and COSLA for months that widespread strike action will be inevitable for the second year in a row unless the pay offer is increased.

“The prediction is a step closer with ballots opening across all 32 Scottish councils involving thousands of our members.

“This is happening because COSLA and the Scottish Government are asking our members to swallow a punishing real terms wage cut. This is totally unacceptable. “

COSLA has claimed the deal is a “strong” pay offer which “clearly illustrates the value councils place on their workforce”.

A spokesperson added: “It is an offer which recognises both the vital role of the people who deliver our essential services across councils every day and the value that we, as employers, place on them.

“Crucially, it also raises the Scottish local government living wage by 99p to £11.84 per hour and sets out a commitment to work with our trade unions to develop a road map to £15 per hour.”