THOUSANDS of school pupils in the Capital stayed at home today as industrial action again forced schools to close their doors.
Council workers are striking over pay for the second time in two months.
A total of 25 primary schools, three nurseries and six special schools in Edinburgh are closed during the 24-hour strike, with a further 16 secondary schools and 12 primarie
s and nurseries open only to certain year groups.
Industrial action on August 20 closed schools on the first day of the new term and crippled scores of vital services across the city.
Union leaders today called for further local government strike action after pay talks left them "extremely disappointed".
Dougie Black, Unison Scotland regional officer, said: "The action will send a very clear message to the employers – 'your failure to improve your offer after making public commitments to do so has angered your staff'. Taking further industrial action is regrettable, but we have no alternative."
The latest pay offer of 2.5 per cent was rejected by Unison, Unite and the GMB. Picket lines have been set up at council buildings, with striking workers congregating outside Waverley Court and City Chambers from as early as 7am.
A protest march will see union members make their way from Edinburgh City Chambers to Princes Street Gardens, with several city centre streets closed off.
A rally was set to take place at the Ross Bandstand at 1.45pm, with Unison's Keith Sonnett and nursery nurse Angela Nicoll speaking.
The pay negotiations, and industrial action, relates to 17,500 Edinburgh City Council staff in a wide range of council jobs.
Today's nationwide action will affect services across Scotland.
The full article contains 288 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
