John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, has called for Unison to halt their ongoing strike that has resulted in school closures across Perthshire. Unison rejected a pay offer of 3.6% for council staff, while two other unions accepted the same offer. The strike, now in its second week, has caused nearly half of primary schools in the Perth & Kinross council area to shut down. The area targeted for industrial action includes Swinney’s home constituency. The strike has specifically affected school support staff such as janitors and cleaners.
In a letter to a local Unison representative, Swinney stated that there is no additional funding available from the Scottish Government to increase the pay offer on the table. Despite the government’s efforts to allocate an extra £77.5 million to support local government pay, Unison continues to reject the offer. Swinney emphasized that the government has already stretched its financial limits to support council workers before Christmas, and urged Unison to end the industrial action by accepting the offer. He highlighted the importance of reaching a collective agreement through meaningful dialogue with all trade union partners.
Stuart Hope, Unison Perth and Kinross branch secretary, argued that Swinney could resolve the dispute by providing more funding for council workers’ pay. He emphasized the need for equitable treatment of staff compared to other public sector workers. Hope called for a collaborative approach involving Cosla, the Scottish Government, and the union to address the issue effectively.
Swinney expressed concern over the disruption in education for children in Perth and Kinross due to the ongoing strike. He urged Unison to engage in constructive dialogue with local government and follow the example of GMB and Unite unions by accepting the offer and putting an end to the industrial action.
In conclusion, the ongoing strike in Perthshire has highlighted the challenges faced by council workers in negotiations for fair pay. The call from John Swinney to Unison to end the strike underscores the importance of reaching a resolution through dialogue and compromise to minimize disruptions in essential services like education. It remains to be seen whether Unison will reconsider its position in light of the First Minister’s appeal and the impact on schoolchildren and communities.