School and early years staff in 10 Scottish council areas are set to strike on September 13 and 14 over a pay dispute.
The GMB union says low-paid education workers in Scotland are being offered a raise of £700 less than their counterparts in southern regions of the UK.
The strike will impact essential staff in schools and early years, including catering staff, janitors, cleaners, and support workers.
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The GMB Scotland members rejected a 5.5 percent offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) in April.
They assert the offer was inadequate given rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.
The strike action is scheduled in Aberdeen, Clackmannanshire, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Orkney, Renfrewshire, and South Ayrshire.
The union represents over 21,000 workers across 32 councils and claims Cosla declined to revise the offer or seek support from the Scottish Government.
The proposed strike comes amid potential additional strikes in schools and early years.
One union’s members have already voted for industrial action, and another union is currently balloting members.
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“Pay is outstripped by inflation”
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland’s senior organiser for public services, said a meeting on August 25 would be the last chance for Cosla to avoid disruptive strikes.
He said: “The latest figures show that, despite rising wages, pay is still being outstripped by inflation.
“The pay offer to council workers does not come close to matching the surging cost of living and one that is worth less with every month that passes.
“Scotland stands on the shoulders of our local authority workers and the value of their work must be reflected in their salaries.
“Cosla has refused to seriously engage with our members during what has been a protracted, frustrating process. If they had, parents and pupils would not now be facing disruption.
“Cosla and Scottish ministers need to engage now or risk turning a crisis into a calamity.”
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A Cosla spokesperson said: “The reality of the situation is that as employers, council leaders have made a strong offer to the workforce.
“A strong offer which clearly illustrates the value councils place on their workforce, and it compares well to other sectors.
“It recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and critically, it seeks to protect jobs and services.
“While the offer value in year is 5.5%, the average uplift on salaries going into the next financial year is 7%.
“Those on the Scottish local government living wage would get 9.12% and those at higher grades, where councils are experiencing severe recruitment challenges, would see 6.05%.
“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 in a way that protects our workforce and services we deliver.”
