Primary schools close as strikes target Swinney's constituency

Staff on the picket line at Riverside Primary School in Perth

All of the primary schools in Perth and Kinross are closed after non-teaching school staff began strike action in First Minister John Swinney's constituency.

Members of the union Unison, which includes janitors and classroom assistants, have walked out over pay for all council workers - meaning 50 schools and early years centres will be closed today and could remain closed for two weeks.

The union has targeted the first minister's constituency with hopes of putting pressure on Mr Swinney.

The latest pay offer - an increase of either 3.6% or £1,292 - was made in August to see off the threat of bin strikes and it was accepted by GMB and Unite but not Unison, the biggest council union.

The union has targeted its industrial action in Perth and Kinross where John Swinney is the local MSP

All secondary schools will be open except St John's Academy in Perth and the Community School of Auchterarder.

The council said it was not possible to complete risk assessments in advance due to the October holidays, so it had to close all primary schools and early years centres - but the situation will be reviewed daily.

It said the situation could change on a day-to-day basis, and parents and guardians should refer to the council website for updates.

Before and after school care will also be closed and payments will be made to families whose children are eligible for free school meals.

The walkout by Unison members is due to begin immediately after the two-week October school holiday, meaning schools could be shut for a full month

Both the Scottish government and council body Cosla said no more money for pay deals was available this year.

Non-teaching staff at schools across Perth and Kinross are taking industrial action

The GMB and Unite wanted their members to get the 3.6% rise they voted for as soon as possible. This would be backdated to April.

However, Unison has warned of a national strike ballot if the dispute is not resolved.

The union believes more needs to be done to address what it sees as the long-term decline in the value of council pay.

It argued that council staff have seen the value of their pay fall by 25% over the last 14 years and said councils have faced problems recruiting staff for some roles.

John Swinney told BBC Scotland News it was "totally unacceptable" for his constituents to be singled out for industrial action just because he is first minister.

He added: “The pay deals being offered by Cosla addressed the two issues that were put to local government by the three trade unions involved.

“One of which was to ensure that the pay rise was better than the one offered to local government workers in England.

"And one was to ensure that progress was being made to work towards higher salaries for lower earning workers. Both of those were met.

“The finance secretary made clear that we’ve put more money into local government to help fund the deal and we have no more money to offer and that remains my position.”

'None of us want to be taking this action but it's a last resort'

Catherine MacIver, who works in early learning and childcare and was on the picket line at Riverside Primary School in Perth, told BBC Scotland News the strike was "a last resort" but that it had been "a long time coming".

She said. "All of us are qualified, if not over-qualified. The teachers got their pay rise and we need to be valued. It’s about time we were recognised and paid more for what we’re doing.

"We’re working with the youngest children in our society. We’re making sure they’re prepared for their next stage in learning and making sure they’re cared for and safe when they’re not with their parents – that’s a very big job we’ve got to do."

She added: "None of us want to be taking this action, but this is the last resort.

"We don’t want to see children out of education. We want to be providing them with the best care that we can, but you can only do that if you value your staff.

"We want to be with the children and helping them, but we need to make sure that we’re helping ourselves."

'I really want to be with the children so these are desperate measures'

Colleague Terri Higgins said staff "just want to be recognised for the really good job that we do".

She added: "I really miss the children. We’ve been off for two weeks and I want to be with them, so these are desperate measures.

"We’re doing it because we want fair pay. We’re standing here for the principles that we believe in.

"We want to be in that school with the children that we care for every day.

"We want the Scottish government to recognise that we love our job, we really care and we want to be with the children.

"But we need to be treated fairly."

'I understand but it's really sad that kids can't go to school'

Working mum Kristina Fletcher faces a month without pay because she will have to stay at home with her five-year-old son Magnus while staff at St John’s Primary in Perth are on strike.

Ms Fletcher, who is a beauty therapist in a spa, said: "We don't know how long the school is going to be closed for.

"I've had to cancel all my clients because I don’t know what’s happening tomorrow or the week after or whatever.

"Plus it costs even more because I have to entertain Magnus so I have to come to a soft play centre or somewhere else and I spend more money.

"I do understand (why the workers are striking) but they should do something different because it’s a really sad thing that kids can’t go to school.

"There were two weeks' holidays and now two weeks of strikes, so basically parents have to take one month off."