School staff will strike in 24 councils across Scotland in a dispute over pay, after what a union called the "strongest ever strike mandate" in local government.
Mass school closures are expected after UNISON balloted members over a strike in response to a 5% pay offer from Cosla.
While the union said it had received an "overwhelming" vote in favour of strike action in every local council area, strike laws mandating a 50% turnout meant the action was threatened in 24 local council areas.
The affected areas are: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee City, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Moray, North Ayrshire, Orkney Islands, Perth & Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire.
UNISON Scottish secretary Lilian Macer said: “This is UNISON’s strongest ever strike mandate in local government, which shows the level of anger felt by staff.
“The union will do everything possible to get back around the table with Cosla to resolve this dispute. School staff would prefer to be in school working with children, not on picket lines and closing dozens of schools.
“But the Scottish government and Cosla should be in no doubt about the determination of school staff and they’ll do what it takes to get an improved pay deal for all local government workers”
UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Mark Ferguson said: “School staff across Scottish local government have voted to strike in unprecedented numbers. Cosla must address the union’s calls for improved fair pay that recognises and rewards them for the vital work they do in their communities.
“Cosla leaders are meeting today and if they fail to address the reasonable demands on the back of such a significant mandate, schools across Scotland will close and nobody wants that.
“UNISON remains committed to dialogue and hopes a satisfactory resolution can be found before staff are forced to take industrial action.”
Cosla has been contacted for comment.
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