Nursery World - Vote fails for pay across Scotland

Hopes for a resolution to the long-running nursery nurses' dispute fell when a parliamentary vote to introduce a national pay settlement across Scotland was lost last week. The debate was tabled by the Scottish Socialist Party and was led by MSP Frances Curran, who accused the Scottish Executive of 'double standards'

The debate was tabled by the Scottish Socialist Party and was led by MSP Frances Curran, who accused the Scottish Executive of 'double standards'

and 'utter hypocrisy' for increasing nursery nurses' responsibilities without giving them more pay. But despite the full backing of the Scottish National Party, the vote was defeated, with 70 MSPs voting against the proposal and 44 in favour.

More than 100 striking nursery nurses belonging to the public service union Unison packed the public gallery to hear the debate, with several hundred supporters outside, during the second week of the all-out strike.

During parliamentary questions after the debate, First Minister Jack McConnell said the Scottish Executive would not intervene to end the dispute. He said, 'The Executive believes strongly that nursery nurses in Scotland deserve better pay and that they do an excellent job. It believes, however, that it is for employers and trade unions to negotiate a proper settlement and for nursery nurses to receive the pay settlement that is agreed.'

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