A rolling programme of strike action could see further closures of school in Fife over the coming weeks.

The union UNISON is planning to teak further action after members voted overwhelmingly to reject COSLA's latest pay offer, with nine in ten workers voting against the offer in a consultative ballot. 

Earlier this month, UNISON members went on strike which resulted in school closures for three days. The dates of further strikes, and which areas and schools will be affected, will be announced in the coming days. 

UNISON’s Scottish secretary Lilian Macer said: “No one takes industrial action lightly. It’s a very difficult decision for anyone, but as much as this is about pay, it’s also about standing up for local services. 

"The school staff taking part in strike action support children in school every day of the year, and many are parents with school-age children too.  

"Workers are taking action because they want children to be educated in well-resourced, well-staffed schools. They want to start trying to reverse years of cuts and under-investment in the workforce and services. " 

Members of UNISON who will be involved in taking strike action include janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff.

Chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee Mark Ferguson said: “I’m a parent myself, so I understand the disruption these strikes cause. But if wages don’t rise, school staff will leave for other jobs beyond education that pay significantly more an hour. That would be a disaster and would help no one.”  

Mr Ferguson criticised the current offer, saying it amounted to a real-terms pay cut, and added: "COSLA and the Scottish Government need to give school staff a decent pay rise, fund any increase properly and commit to implementing a pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers.”