Confirmed: Forres schools among 26 in Moray strikes will close on Tuesday

TUESDAY (September 26) will see strike disruption hit Forres schools, with four town primary schools not opening, Moray Council has confirmed.

Early Learning and Childcare will also be disrupted by the action, with all providers in Moray to shut for three days from Tuesday to Thursday.

The closures will impact 26 primary and secondary schools spread across Moray, with parents to receive an update next week on possible further closures on Wednesday and Thursday.

A full list broken down by area showing which schools in Forres, and across Moray, are closed on Tuesday, and which are staying open, can be found below.

Two schools, Forres Academy and Lossiemouth High will be "partially open" on Tuesday, a council spokesperson confirmed.

And, as a result, the majority of Moray's schools will be impacted by Tuesday's strike action by union Unison, with only 24 of the council's 54 schools to open as normal.

Confirmation of the disruption came despite two of three unions involved, GMB and Unite, announcing a last-minute suspension of the walkout yesterday morning (Friday, September 22) to consider a new pay offer.

Unison Scotland head of local government, Johanna Baxter said Cosla's recent offer was "too little too late".

“This revised offer is far too little, too late," she said.

"Strikes will therefore proceed next week.

"We cannot agree to a pay offer that will result in further cuts to our members jobs and the services they provide.

"It has taken COSLA 6 months to send us a revised pay offer which, for the vast majority of staff is an increase of only 0.5 per cent in-year.

"These are not well-paid staff, they are on less than the Scottish average wage and it is simply not acceptable.

"Far from learning the lessons of last year’s dispute the situation has been worse this year, caused further delay local government workers’ pay during a cost-of-living crises and created uncertainty for parents.

"This is no way to conduct industrial relations.”

Cosla's resources spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “I am extremely disappointed with the news from UNISON today that not only are they recommending rejection of this half a billion pay package – they are putting our communities, especially our children and young people, through the turmoil and mayhem of strikes next week with their actions.

“We have met every ask of our trade union colleagues throughout these negotiations and this best and final offer was made on the basis that strikes would be suspended.

“We absolutely value all our local government workforce and throughout these negotiations council leaders have re-iterated the value we place on the workforce and the work that they do.

“It is totally unacceptable that with such a significant offer on the table that our trade union colleagues are putting our communities and our young people through the turmoil of strikes.

“It must be reiterated that we are talking about a pay package worth over £445 million, specifically targeted at the lower end of our workforce.

"A pay package which not only compares well to other sectors but recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and which would mean the lowest paid would see an in-year uplift of over £2000 or just under 10 per cent.

"This would mean that a pupil support assistant currently earning £22,000 would receive a £2006 pay increase and a new salary of £24,000.

"This is an additional £748 from the offer in April.”

How will strikes affect Forres schools on Tuesday?

Closed

• Anderson’s Primary
• Applegrove Primary
• Kinloss Primary
• Pilmuir Primary

Partially open

• Forres Academy

Open

• Dallas Primary
• Logie Primary
• Dyke Primary
• Alves Primary

The full list of Moray schools closed on Tuesday

Elgin area – closed

• Elgin High School
• New Elgin Primary
• Linkwood Primary
• Greenwards Primary
• Bishopmill Primary
• East End Primary
• Seafield Primary

Buckie area – closed

• Millbank Primary
• Cluny Primary
• Portgordon Primary

Keith area – closed

• Keith Grammar School
• Keith Primary

Fochabers/Lhanbryde area – closed

• Milne’s High School
• Lhanbryde Primary

Lossiemouth area – closed

• St Gerardine Primary
• Hythehill Primary
• Hopeman Primary
• Burghead Primary

Speyside area – closed

• Speyside High School
• Aberlour Primary
• Rothes Primary
• Craigellachie Primary

Moray schools "partially open" on Tuesday

Lossiemouth area – partially open

• Lossiemouth High School

Moray schools open on Tuesday

Elgin area – open

• Mosstowie Primary
• Elgin Academy
• St Sylvesters Primary
• West End Primary

Buckie area –z open

• Buckie High School
• Cullen Primary
• Findochty Primary
• Portessie Primary
• Portknockie Primary
• St. Peters Primary

Keith area – open

• St Thomas Primary
• Rothiemay Primary
• Botriphnie Primary
• Newmill Primary

Fochabers/Lhanbryde area – open

• Milnes Primary
• Mosstodloch Primary

Speyside area – open

• Tomintoul Primary
• Mortlach Primary
• Glenlivet Primary
• Knockando Primary