Swinney warned strikes could shut schools on AHS visit

SCHOOL workers in Shetland warned first minister John Swinney this week they have a mandate to go on strike. 

Unison union members in the isles could walk out of schools and early learning settings in the coming months after voting to strike.

However, the union is targeting Swinney’s home constituency of Perth and Kinross first – with staff there to walk out for two weeks later this month.

On Swinney’s visit to Shetland on Monday, school staff outside the Anderson High School warned him he faces a similar situation in the isles unless the Scottish Government returns to the negotiating table.

Unison Shetland secretary Susanne Gens said their members had voted to strike – but they have not yet given Shetland Islands Council notice of when they will strike.

Gens said their members had “made sure” Swinney was aware of the strikes in Perth and Kinross when he spoke to them on Monday morning.

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“It was made clear to him that the strikes in Perth and Kinross have Scottish wide support,” she said.

“We also reminded him that last year the Scottish Government made a commitment to fund the agreed minimum wage of £15 per hour by 2026, something they now have reneged upon.

“This is leaving our members in areas like social work, early years and ferries footing the Scottish Government’s bill and further hindering the council to recruit in key areas.”

Unison said council workers in Scotland were “angry” that their pay offer was not in line with other public service workers, many of whom have been offered 5.5 per cent pay rises.

The strikes in Perth and Kinross will start immediately after the two-week October holidays, meaning schools could be shut for a full month. Schools in Shetland were last closed due to strikes over three days in September 2023.

Further planned strikes last November were suspended after the Scottish Government offered an improved pay deal – which included a commitment to pay all local government workers £15 per hour by April 2026.

Local government secretary Shona Robison urged Unison members to accept the latest pay offer.

“While this government respects workers’ rights, no-one’s interests will be served by industrial action which will disrupt children and young people,” she said.

“The pay offer is better than that made to local government workers in the rest of the UK and will see the lowest-paid workers, including Unison members, receive a 5.63 per cent pay increase.

“I hope that Unison members recognise the strength of this offer which has already been accepted by GMB and Unite.”

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