But as the bitter dispute continued into its third month, around 2,500 nursery nurses remained out as local branches held out for more money. However, more than half of the 32 local authorities have made local deals, with Dundee and Inverclyde the latest to reach agreements.
Carol Ball, chair of Unison's nursery nurse working party, said the union could no longer hold out for a national settlement because the employers' organisation, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, had not changed its position.
Ms Ball said, 'We're devastated. It's as if we're in mourning and then we've got to inspire members to fight on locally.'
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