Unison accused local authority employers of 'failing Scotland's children and Scotland's parents'. But the Convention of Scotland's Local Authorities said its position remained unchanged, and with no movement from employers the trade union warned that disruption was likely to continue into the summer. Unison's national industrial action committee met on 19 June and gave approval for six more weeks of strikes to take place from 1 July.
Carol Ball, chair of Unison's nursery nurse working party, said that this could threaten extended daycare provision for working parents during the summer holidays and that nursery nurses would also continue to boycott additional duties. She added, 'Scottish employers are clearly treating nursery nurses and Scotland's children with contempt.
'Millions of taxpayers' money has been committed by the Scottish Executive to nursery provision, yet they will not discuss any payment to nursery nurses who are providing the service. They are failing Scotland's children and Scotland's parents by sitting back whilst children's education is disrupted.'
Up to 2,000 nursery nurses from Falkirk, Stirling, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Fife were on strike last Tuesday and Wednesday, and Unison members from South Lanarkshire were also out on Thursday.
Joe di Paola, Unison's Scottish organiser for local government said, 'All we were looking for was a payment to bring nursery nurses to a fair level - but councillors apparently would rather sit back and wait for their summer holidays.'
Waves of strikes continued on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, involving 2,000 nursery nurses from Falkirk, Stirling, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Fife. Members from South Lanarkshire were also on strike on Thursday.
