Nursery World - Councils move to avert strikes

Most councils across Scotland have prepared a pay offer in the hope of settling the long-running industrial dispute with nursery nurses over their pay and career structure, according to council umbrella body the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA). The claim came last week after Unison member nursery nurses voted overwhelmingly in favour of all-out strike action to get their starting salary increased from 10,000 to around 14,000. About 70 per cent took part in the union's ballot and 81 per cent of those voted in favour of the strike.

The claim came last week after Unison member nursery nurses voted overwhelmingly in favour of all-out strike action to get their starting salary increased from 10,000 to around 14,000. About 70 per cent took part in the union's ballot and 81 per cent of those voted in favour of the strike.

Unison insisted it wanted to see a nationally negotiated settlement to the strike and said that CoSLA was 'disgraceful' for prolonging the strike by failing to negotiate at this level.

However, local councils have prepared offers which could substantially improve on CoSLA's recommended pay rise of between 11 per cent and 16 per cent last year, said Anna Fowlie, CoSLA's team leader, children and young people. 'A lot of councils are ready and waiting with proposals - that's what the vast majority of councils are telling us.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included