All schools in Argyll and Bute will be closed because of strike action next Thursday (November 24), it was confirmed today.
EIS union members are calling for higher pay and have voted overwhelmingly in favour of their first strike action in four decades.
The council’s chief education officer Jennifer Crocket said the decision had been taken because of the number of teaching staff who could be on strike.
“There will be no on-line learning available that day in line with rules associated with strike action,” she added.
“While the council has been formally notified by trade unions of their intention to strike, there is still a possibility that, through negotiations at a national level, the strike may not take place.
“If this is the case then we will be in touch via our normal channels.
“We appreciate that this is inconvenient for families and hope that this advance notice will allow you to make appropriate alternative childcare arrangements more easily.”
Families entitled to free school meals through financial eligibility criteria will receive a payment in lieu of their entitlement for that day, which will be paid directly into their bank account over the course of next week.
Nurseries will operate as normal everywhere except for Arinagour, Easdale, Kilmodan, Kilchattan and Rhunahaorine.
In an EIS statutory ballot 96% voted in favour of strike action on a turnout of 71%, leading to the agreement of an initial day of strike action.
General secretary Andrea Bradley said: “We hoped not to get to this point, and have given local authorities and the Scottish Government ample time to come up with a fair pay offer.
“But, with a pay-rise for teachers now more than seven months late, and with the last pay offer having been rejected by teachers almost three months ago, the blame for this move to strike action sits squarely with COSLA and the Scottish Government.”
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