Schools in the constituency of First Minister John Swinney will be closed this week due to ongoing strike action.

Trade union Unison called the action targeting Mr Swinney’s seat over the next two weeks after members working in non-teaching roles in schools rejected a pay offer from local authority body Cosla.

In a statement published on its website, Perth and Kinross Council said all primary schools, nurseries, intensive support settings and two secondary schools will be closed on Monday.

The area is the only one in Scotland targeted by strikes, with schools in other constituencies staying open. 

The First Minister has previously described the targeting of his seat as “unacceptable” and there was “no justification” for it.

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The council said schools could open later this week, but the situation would likely remain “fluid” for the duration of the action, and “may change for individual schools on a day-to-day basis”.


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Colette Hunter, Unison’s local government committee chairwoman in Scotland, said: “This year, teachers got a pay rise of 4.6%, NHS staff received 5.5%, MSPs received 6.7% and some councillors got a pay rise of 13.8%.

“Council staff are being left behind again – they have every justification in pressurising the Scottish Government to find a solution.”