School and nursery staff on the picket lines in Moray

A three-day school strike has begun in Moray and Scotland amongst support staff and nursery workers.

Just over half of Moray's 52 schools remained closed this morning following a walkout by members of UNISON.

The union is claiming that parents, pupils and school staff have been let down by the Scottish government and Cosla, the umbrella group which acts for Scotland's 32 councils.

It adds that its members are on strike today, Wednesday and Thursday, because their employers have failed to offer a "decent" pay rise.

A total of 27 schools are shut in Moray. A further two – Lossiemouth High and Forres Academy – will be "partially open".

Meanwhile, the remaining 23 are currently planning to stay open.

UNISON says Cosla's pay offer, made late last week, is barely an improvement on what was put forward in the spring.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland's head of local government, said: "Put simply, this was far too little, and way too late.

"Both Cosla and the Scottish government had months to get their act together. Both have failed parents, pupils and staff miserably.

"Not a single school employee wants to walk out, but what's been offered is substantially short of what's needed.

"They should give school staff a decent pay rise, fund any increase properly and commit to a timetable for implementing a minimum rate of pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers. That would end the dispute.

"Anything less risks prolonging a dispute no one wants, cuts to already under-pressure services and school staff continuing to quit for pastures new, where the jobs are significantly better-paid."

UNISON says up to 21,000 of its members working in over 1800 schools are taking part in the strike.

Moray Council has listed which schools will be open and shut today, but states these arrangements will be reviewed for Wednesday and Thursday.

Open (23 schools):

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

St Thomas Primary; Rothiemay Primary; Botriphnie Primary; Newmill Primary

Milnes Primary; Mosstodloch Primary; Mosstowie Primary

Elgin Academy; West End Primary

Dallas Primary; Logie Primary; Dyke Primary; Alves Primary

Tomintoul Primary; Mortlach Primary; Glenlivet Primary; Knockando Primary.

.

Partially open (2 schools):

Lossiemouth High School and Forres Academy.

.

Closed (27 schools):

Millbank Primary; Cluny Primary; Portgordon Primary

Keith Grammar School; Keith Primary

Milne’s High School; Lhanbryde Primary

Elgin High Shool; New Elgin Primary; Linkwood Primary; Greenwards Primary

Bishopmill Primary; East End Primary; Seafield Primary; St Sylvesters Primary

St Gerardine Primary; Hythehill Primary; Hopeman Primary; Burghead Primary

Anderson’s Primary; Applegrove Primary; Kinloss Primary; Pilmuir Primary

Speyside High School; Aberlour Primary; Rothes Primary; Craigellachie Primary