‘Almost all Scottish schools to close next week’ after union backs strike

Teachers’ leaders today predicted that virtually all Scotland’s primary and secondary schools would be forced to close for a day after another union voted in support of strike action.

The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) became the latest union to vote in favour of taking action as part of a row over pensions.

More than two million workers across the UK are due to walk out on November 30 for a day of co-ordinated action, which will disrupt schools, courts, Government offices, jobcentres, driving tests, council services and hospitals.

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland - Scotland’s largest teaching union - have already voted in favour of the industrial action.

Today, SSTA general-secretary Ann Ballinger announced almost 80% of the members who voted in its ballot backed taking action, with just over 20% voting against.

And she said: “It is now virtually certain that 99% or more of Scotland’s primary and secondary schools will be closed on November 30.”

The SSTA represents some 9,000 teachers and Ms Ballinger said the view of members was “clear”, adding: “We regret that the Government has done nothing to change its view on the more damaging aspects of its pension proposals.”

She also claimed the UK Government’s attitude to public services was “on a par with that expected from a Victorian millowner”.

Ms Ballinger hit out: “Is there any willingness on the part of the current Government to see the damage being done? Perhaps the matter is clearer if we ask what interest the current Government really has in the provision of good public services generally but in particular of a good state education service. How many of the current Cabinet would have a clue?

“The latest Government threat that the current ‘offer’ will be withdrawn if strikes go ahead exhibits the level of thinking prevalent in the current Westminster Government. We see an approach to public service which would be on a par with that expected from a Victorian millowner for whom every penny spent on the workforce is seen as a disaster.”