150,000 Scots Public Service Workers To Stike Today

SCOTLAND’S public services will be paralysed today as 150,000 staff walk out in a bitter pay battle. Schools, rubbish collections, leisure facilities and social care will be in turmoil during the 24-hour strike.

It comes after courts were thrown into chaos yesterday.

Hundreds of court service workers walked out in protest at the government’s two per cent pay deal.

Parents are advised to check council websites to see how today’s action – by Unison, Unite and GMB union members – affects their area. Council workers are protesting at bosses’ 2.5 per cent pay offer.

In Glasgow, more than 40,000 children will have a day off as the city’s 169 primary schools and 126 council nurseries shut.

Dozens of schools in Edinburgh will also close.

North Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire and Inverclyde are among those keeping keeping all schools open.

Home helps are joining in, along with parking attendants and cemetery staff. Councils claim they don’t have enough cash to increase pay further.

It kicked off yesterday as 1700 members of the Public and Commercial Services union working in justice, sportscotland and the National Museum of Scotland walked out.

Sheriff courts at Campbeltown, Dornoch, Stonehaven, Stornoway and Tain were closed. The Scottish Courts Service said all other courts were open, though some including Glasgow, had a reduced service.

Unions are promising more action.

And Labour MSP Andy Kerr called on SNP ministers to “come out of hibernation” and deal with the strikes.

He said: “We need Alex Salmond to take action to resolve this dispute, which is inconveniencing many.”