Education / Most schools to close next Thursday due to strike action
ALL SCHOOLS in Shetland, apart from the primaries in Cullivoe and Skeld and most early learning and childcare settings, will be closed next Thursday (24 November) due to national strike action.
School staff across the country who are members of the Education Institute for Scotland (EIS) or the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) have agreed to strike in a dispute over pay.
Staff not involved in strike action will be able to attend schools to undertake alternative work.
Cullivoe Primary School and Skeld Primary School are unaffected by the strike action. Both schools will be open to pupils and staff as usual with normal school transport arrangements.
Isles Haven Nursery, including the old infants room, in Lerwick will be open on the Thursday, as will the out of school clubs at Islesburgh, Sandwick and Brae.
Headteachers are writing to parents and carers today (Thursday).
A recent ballot among EIS members showed overwhelming support – 96 per cent – for a strike.
Teachers in Scotland have been offered a five per cent pay rise, but the EIS want to see a 10 per cent pay offer.
Earlier today the UK Government announced plans to increase the national minimum/living wage for over 23s from £9.50 to £10.42 from April – an uplift of 9.7 per cent. Rates for younger people stand to rise by a similar percentage.
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