Scotland braced for mass public sector walkout

Scotland is gearing up for the biggest day of strike action in decades as around 300,000 workers prepare to walk out over changes to public sector pensions.

Schools, travel, hospitals and courts will all be affected tomorrow, as well as cultural services including libraries and museums.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said only 30 of the 2,700 council-run schools will be open across the country as members of the largest teaching unions voted overwhelmingly in favour of the strike.

The action is in response to UK Government plans to increase the amount of money public sector workers pay into their pension, raise the age of retirement and introduce career-average pensions.

David Watson, Unison organiser for Scotland, said “just about everyone” will be affected by the day of action in the same way as on a public holiday.

Every school run by Glasgow City Council, the City of Edinburgh Council and Aberdeen City Council will close.

In Shetland, most schools will be closed with the exception of Uyeasound, Skerries, Foula, Burravoe and Fair Isle. Only one school, St Andrew’s Primary, will be operating in Orkney and Orkney College will be open for private study only.

Glasgow City Council said: “The health and safety of our children is paramount and as we have no idea of knowing how many teachers and school staff will be in each establishment until the day of the strike, we have taken the decision to close all schools.”

In Dumfries and Galloway, tomorrow is an inset day for teachers with pupils out of school, so education will not be affected.

The underground system in Glasgow will be closed for the duration of the strike, with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) saying it has “no other choice”.

Gordon Maclennan, SPT chief executive, said: “As we don’t know until Wednesday how many of our subway staff will be on strike, we have no choice but to shut.

“Although this is incredibly disappointing as many thousands of customers depend on the system every day, this will at least allow people time to make alternative transport arrangements.”

Services from SPT bus stations at Buchanan Street, East Kilbride, Hamilton and Greenock are expected to run as normal.

Lothian Buses said its services are not expected to be affected.