The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Class closures confirmed for teacher strike
All schools in Angus and Perthshire are to close on the day teachers are to hold a strike, it has been announced.
Both Angus and Perth & Kinross councils confirmed classrooms will be shut next Thursday.
Dundee and Fife councils have yet to confirm whether their schools and nurseries will also close.
The move will affect all primary and secondary schools in both areas, as a result of teacher strikes organised by teaching unions EIS and AHDS.
Teachers are striking over a 5% pay offer, having asked for a 10% rise.
Angus Council said: “Nurseries at Andover, Inverbrothock, Northmuir, Seaview, Southesk and Warddykes will open as usual, and early learning and childcare centres at Carnoustie and Forfar will also open as normal.
“All other school-based childcare settings will be closed due to the industrial action.
“Where required, Angus Council will be in contact with parents and carers with further information.”
Perth & Kinross Council revealed all local authority schools and nurseries will be closed.
Kids’ clubs and wraparound care will also be closed, although school lets will operate as normal.
Sharon Johnston, head of education and learning with Perth & Kinross Council, said: “We understand how frustrating and difficult this situation will be for many families.
“However, we cannot operate schools safely without the required number of staff so we have taken the difficult decision to close all schools.
“Negotiations are continuing at a national level and we will continue to update parents and carers about the impact of the dispute on our schools.”
All schools and early learning centres will open on Friday November 25.
It comes after 96% of union members voted to strike, with a 71% turnout.
The EIS asked local government umbrella body Cosla for a 10% pay rise at the start of the year in recognition of teachers’ work through the pandemic as well as rising living costs and inflation.
Last week, Dundee EIS rep David Baxter said teachers were “angry”.
He said: “I think this could be a lightning bolt to everything else that is going on in schools.
“The Scottish Government is telling us they are listening but what are they doing?
“The time is over for listening, they need to find the revenue.”
A planned closure of some schools for three days in September due to a strike among school support staff was called off with five days’ notice.
That was to allow a pay offer to be considered, which has now been accepted.
Education Secretary Shirley-anne Somerville said: “We are absolutely committed to working together to support a fair pay offer for teachers and to avoid unnecessary strike action and the disruption that would cause.”