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Shetland, Moray schools will close as union announces more strike days

A planned teacher strike on Thursday November 24 will force all schools in Moray and all but two schools in Shetland to close. Photo by Hazel Lawson/DC Thomson
A planned teacher strike on Thursday November 24 will force all schools in Moray and all but two schools in Shetland to close. Photo by Hazel Lawson/DC Thomson

A planned teacher strike on Thursday November 24 will force all schools in Moray and all but two schools in Shetland to close to students.

The strike will involve members of the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) and the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS).

And following a meeting of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) on Thursday afternoon, EIS has also announced two more days of strike action on January 10 and 11.

These closures come a day after Aberdeenshire Council announced that all primary and secondary schools will be closed due to the strike.

All councils expect significant disruptions to classes

It is too early to tell how councils will react to the newly-announced strike days on January 10 and 11.

Early learning and childcare centres in Moray will be able to remain open as normal on November 24.

Shetland Islands Council said that only Cullivoe and Skeld Primary Schools are unaffected by next week’s strike day.

Isles Haven Nursery in Lerwick and out-of-school clubs at Islesburgh, Sandwick and Brae will also remain open.

Aberdeen City Council expects schools to be significantly disrupted, but have not said which, of any, schools would close.

Education officials in Orkney are also advising parents to expect closures and make alternative childcare arrangements on November 24.

Other councils across the north and north-east have yet to confirm their plans. Most expect to make an announcement by the end of the week.

EIS members make up a significant proportion of the teachers in local councils. There are more than 9,000 member teachers in north and north-east schools.

No new pay offer

The planned industrial action is part of a pay dispute lodged by EIS. The union is asking for a 10% pay rise for all employees.

On Tuesday January 10, the EIS will call all primary, special schools (primary and primary/secondary), and early years teacher members out on strike.

The next day, January 11, secondary teachers, secondary special school teachers and associated professionals will be called out.

North and north-east councils will only recently be returning from winter holidays at that time.

Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils return from the winter holidays on January 9; Highland Council returns on January 6; the islands will return on January 5.

EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said the strikes will go ahead unless there is a new pay offer. The union continues to reject the 5% offer still on the table.

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