Perth and Kinross school strikes enter second week

A strike by council staff in Perth and Kinross has entered its second week.

About half of the area's primary schools remain completely closed because of the targeted action.

The strike is over council pay across Scotland and involves Unison members in schools and early years such as janitors and classroom assistants. Teachers are not on strike.

First Minister John Swinney, whose constituency is affected by the strike action, has written to Unison encouraging "meaningful dialogue with local government."

Mr Swinney said: "Although the Scottish government has no formal role in these pay negotiations, we have taken extraordinary decisions within a challenging financial context to identify an additional £77.5m to support local government pay.

"This is at the absolute limit of affordability and there is no more available funding from the Scottish government."

Mr Swinney added that he did not think it was fair that the education of children and young people in Perth and Kinross was being disrupted "because one of their local MSPs is also the First Minister of Scotland."

There is currently no sign either councils or the Scottish government will budge on pay.

Some primaries are open but their associated early learning and childcare settings are closed.

Unison has rejected the pay rise which is worth almost £1,300 or 3.6% to staff, whichever is higher.

It was made in August to see off the threat of bin strikes in many council areas. The Scottish government made more resources available to councils to help.

Both the GMB and Unite unions accepted it and councils are now taking steps to give staff the money plus backpay.

It's likely that staff in Perth and Kinross will get the money in their November wages.

Unison believes the offer does not do enough to deal with its concerns over the long-term decline in the value of council pay.

But the Scottish government has made it clear there can be no more money for council pay this year.

Unison is taking action in Perth and Kinross because it already had a mandate for strike action there. It hopes to put pressure on First Minister John Swinney who is a local MSP.

Mr Swinney has said it is "unacceptable" that Unison is targeting Perth and Kinross and called for talks.

BBC Scotland News has also spoken to some council leaders who said the offer could not be reopened unless the government helps.

The strike has caused practical problems for some parents in Perth and Kinross who have had to arrange childcare or take time off work.

Many of the closed schools are providing distance learning so children can do some work at home

The council has also said that payments would be made to families who have missed out on free school meals because of the strike.

Unison is planning a national ballot of council staff to see whether they would go on strike too but has yet to confirm details.

Any ballot would be likely to run for several weeks. If the union secured a mandate for action in more council areas, it would need to give two weeks' notice of a strike.

In the coming weeks councils should hear how much money the Scottish government plans to give them for next year and learn how much they may be able to raise the council tax by.

Unison insists it still wants to see an improvement in pay during this financial year.

But it is possible that the emphasis may move to securing a bigger "restorative" pay rise from next April.

Parents can find full details of school closures on Perth and Kinross Council's website.