School strike in Renfrewshire Council called off as others set to go ahead

Hundreds of schools and early years establishments across Scotland are to close for three days due to industrial action.

But industrial action that was set to impact Renfrewshire has been suspended.

Parents and guardians in several local authority areas were told of the closures on September 6, 7, and 8, in letters sent on Friday.

Due to strikes by cleaners, janitors, pupil support, office, technical and catering workers, schools will close “in the interests of providing a safe environment for pupils and staff”.

However shortly after 5pm on Tuesday, Renfrewshire Council contacted parents and guardians to notify them that the strikes in the area had been called off.

It comes amid a widespread cleansing worker walkout that has seen rubbish pile up and bins overflow across more than 20 councils.

A total of 12 councils are expecting to be hit by education and early years staff strikes next week with many announcing that all nurseries, primaries and additional support for learning schools will close for three days.

Meanwhile, teachers in the EIS – Scotland’s largest teaching union – are also to be asked if they back taking strike action.

It comes after unions rejected the latest pay offer that would see a minimum rise of £1,925 for the lowest paid staff as they asked for the funds to be distributed as a flat-rate bump instead of as a 5% increase.

Will your council be hit by strikes?

Aberdeen

School staff did vote to strike but no dates have been announced.

Aberdeenshire

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Aberdeenshire Council does not have any planned closures yet, however a spokesperson said the authority was still assessing and will be able to say more this week.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “The strike action will involve school support staff and as part of our planning, each school will consider whether it is safe and appropriate to remain open.

“Further information for parents and carers to be prepared for any potential disruption will be shared over the next few days.”

Angus

Members employed by Tayside Contracts to provide catering and janitorial services in schools represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7, and Thursday, September 8.

An Angus Council spokesperson said the authority was working with Tayside Contracts to establish the potential impact of any strike action.

“As soon as this is established, we will identify what contingency plans can be put in place to minimise any disruption to normal day-to-day school operations,” they said.

Argyll and Bute

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Clackmannanshire

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Clackmannanshire Council has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Schools workers represented by Unite balloted to strike but no dates have been confirmed.

Dumfries and Galloway

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Dundee

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “We are working with Tayside Contracts to establish the potential impact of any strike action by Tayside Contracts staff and continue to focus on minimising the disruption to services during this period.

“Parents and pupils will be made aware of any future developments and the details of how this will affect their schools and nurseries at the earliest opportunity.”

East Ayrshire

No school or early years strike action is planned.

East Dunbartonshire

No school or early years strike action is planned.

East Lothian

No school or early years strike action is planned.

East Renfrewshire

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Around 150 workers in schools represented by GMB will walk out on Tuesday, September 6, for three consecutive days.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

East Renfrewshire Council said it had yet to make a final decision on closures but expected to issue an update early this week.

Edinburgh

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Falkirk

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Fife

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Glasgow

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Around 1,200 workers in schools represented by GMB will walk out on Tuesday, September 6, for three consecutive days.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

All primary schools, nurseries and additional support for learning (ASL) schools in Glasgow are to close for the three days of strike action.

In a letter to parents, the council said: “The extent of the action on this occasion means that we have had to take the decision to close all the city’s primary schools, early learning and childcare establishments, and ASL schools.”

Highland

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Inverclyde

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

All schools and early years establishments will be closed for the three days of strike action.

In a letter to parents and guardians, the council’s director of education, Ruth Binks, said: “Every establishment has conducted a specific risk assessment for their circumstances and all have concluded that it will be unsafe to open on the days in question.”

She added that the council would not be providing childcare on the strike days and there would be no breakfast clubs. Children entitled to free school meals and clothing grants will have money transferred to their guardian’s account for the three days that schools are closed.

Midlothian

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Moray

No school or early years strike action is planned.

North Ayrshire

No school or early years strike action is planned.

North Lanarkshire

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

School and early years staff represented by Unite will be on strike for three days on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

A North Lanarkshire Council spokesperson said: “We are assessing what impact the notified action will have and will inform families of any changes to services.”

Orkney

School and early years staff represented by Unison will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Corporate director of education, leisure and housing James Wylie said: “This could potentially force closure of some, or all, of our schools and early years settings.

“Education officials in Orkney are meeting on Monday afternoon (August 29) to get a clearer picture of how each facility might be affected.

“They will provide updates after the meeting but, in the meantime, parents and carers are advised to plan for possible closures.

“Every effort will be made to minimise disruption, however if a significant proportion of staff opt to strike then it will be challenging to keep facilities open.

“We ask that you prepare for this possibility. Where closures are required, remote learning will be provided. Please be assured that we will advise as soon as we can of what is happening at each setting.”

Perth and Kinross

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “We are working with our partners at Tayside Contracts to establish the potential impact of any strike action by staff working in schools.

“As soon as this is established we will identify what contingency plans can be put in place to minimise any disruption to normal day-to-day school operations.”

Renfrewshire

No school or early years strike action is planned after industrial action was called off by the GMB union.

Scottish Borders

No school or early years strike action is planned.

Shetland

No school or early years strike action is planned.

South Ayrshire

No school or early years strike action is planned.

South Lanarkshire

School and early years staff represented by Unison and Unite will be on strike on Tuesday, September 6, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “We have just received formal notification from Unison and are considering the consequences for education services on those days.”